It's not a directorial choice I would have anticipated but, good golly, I like it. Word is out that Sam Mendes is in final negotiations to direct the next installment of the venerable James Bond franchise, working from a script by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and Peter Morgan. The absence of Paul Haggis from the writing credits also makes me happy. They're hoping to shoot in June for a 2011 release.
Wow. No idea how this'll turn out if it pulls through. Interesting though.
Like this idea a lot. Doubtless they'll be hanging on to the same action director/2nd unit as before, so Mendes can concentrate on characterisation and plot - things a little lacking in QoS. I've liked all Mendes' films to date, so if this happens I'll be anticipating it feverishly!
Mendes is a big "meh" to me, as long as the script is good i'm ok with it.
As long as it doesn't suck as much as Quantum of solace...
Peter Morgan - great. Mendes - arghhhh, no. Please, no. One of the most over-rated directors around. I'll stop now or it'll turn into a rant...
You think they'd have learned their lesson last time. Hiring drama directors with no action chops is a terrible idea; you'd get a better film hiring an action director and just giving him a script worth filming.
It really doesn't matter which director they chose because they usually don't come near the action stuff. That is handled by a totally different person. So it makes sense to get a director who can do the drama while letting the action director do their stuff.