Sam Mendes took 007 to a whole new level, especially with 'Skyfall' becoming the biggest Bond movie to hit theaters, raking in 1.1 billion dollars at the box office.
Although Daniel Craig is still under contract to return for the next Bond installment, the question remains, who will the studio bring in to direct? Names like Ang Lee, Christopher Nolan, and Nicolas Winding Refn have all been thrown around as possibilities after Sam Mendes graciously turned down an offer to helm the next Bond installment just a few months ago. But, according to Deadline, it's sounding like Mendes might be changing his mind and he's recently been in touch with the film's producers Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. Although he is currently busy working on two stage projects, 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and 'King Lear,' Mendes expressed interest in returning to the franchise...if the time was right. And it looks like the producers are ready to wait for that time, even if it means starting production on the next film in 2014. Neither MGM or Sony has confirmed whether or not there is any truth to the rumor that Mendes might return, but it's an interesting possibility and I know I'd love to see him return to direct the next Bond installment..