After initially saying he wouldn’t want to return to the world of 007, it’s now been announced that SKYFALL director Sam Mendes will indeed helm the next adventure of everybody’s favourite super spy. 

It has now been announced that the film, which remains untitled, will hit UK cinemas October 23rd 2015, followed by a US premiere on November 6th, which means that another powerhouse franchise has joined what’s set to be the biggest year for genre cinema in living memory. While the Broccoli’s originally had a late 2014 release eyed, the producers have rescheduled to accommodate Mendes’ theatre commitments. Sure, Mendes delivered the highest grossing Bond film in the series, but was he really that pivitol to SKYFALL’s success? Enough to delay it by a year? While we’re not so sure, at least this gives returning writer John Logan plenty of time to polish his screenplay. We’d argue that’s the more crucial element of the two in delivering a worthy continuation.

We’ll have more news on BOND 24 as it develops. In the meantime, here’s the Press Release in full:

Director’s Follow-Up to SKYFALL™, the Highest-Grossing Film in the Longest Running Film Franchise, to Arrive in Theaters on October 23, 2015 in the UK and November 6, 2015 in the US 

CULVER CITY, Calif., July 11, 2013 – Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, EON Productions; Gary Barber, Chairman & CEO, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Michael Lynton, CEO, Sony Entertainment, Inc, and Amy Pascal, Co-Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment today announced that Daniel Craig will once again return as the legendary British secret agent in the 24th James Bond film and Sam Mendes will also return to direct the screenplay written by John Logan.  The film is set for release in UK theaters on October 23, 2015 and in US theaters on November 6, 2015.

SKYFALL™, the 23rd James Bond film, took in $1.1 billion worldwide and set a new mark as the highest-grossing film of all time in the UK; it was the best-selling Bond film on DVD/Blu-ray and was the most critically acclaimed film in the history of the longest-running film franchise.

Commenting on the announcement, Wilson and Broccoli said, “Following the extraordinary success of SKYFALL, we’re really excited to be working once again with Daniel Craig, Sam Mendes and John Logan.”

“I am very pleased that by giving me the time I need to honour all my theatre commitments, the producers have made it possible for me to direct Bond 24. I very much look forward to taking up the reins again, and to working with Daniel Craig, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli for a second time,” said Mendes.

Barber added, “We are thrilled to reunite the extraordinary talents of director Sam Mendes with our star Daniel Craig for the next great Bond adventure.” He added, “As evidenced by the phenomenal success of our last collaboration with EON Productions and Sony, the incredible legacy of this 51-year-old franchise continues to amaze.”

Lynton and Pascal said, “It’s a privilege to work on the Bond films. EON, John Logan and Sam Mendes have come up with an extraordinary follow up to SKYFALL and we, along with our partners at MGM, can’t wait to share this new chapter with audiences all over the world.”

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