Sam Mendes won’t direct next James Bond film

Los Angeles, May 29 (PTI) Sam Mendes, the Oscar-winning filmmaker who directed the last two James Bond films, “Spectre” and “Skyfall”, is done with the 007 franchise.

“It was an incredible adventure, I loved every second of it,” Mendes said at the Hay festival.

“But I think it’s time for somebody else. I’m a storyteller. And at the end of the day, I want to make stories with new characters.”

It’s unclear whether star Daniel Craig will return for MGM and Sony’s next installment, reported Variety.

Rumors have swirled about his potential replacement, the most prominent names being Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba and Jamie Bell.

“It’s not a democracy,” he said.

“Barbara Broccoli decides who is going to be the next Bond, end of story.” It was Broccoli, the veteran producer of the series, who picked Craig, a lesser-known actor at the time who had “zero” support, Mendes pointed out.

The director's two Bond films, released in 2012 and 2015, grossed nearly USD 2 billion worldwide at the box office.