Sam Mendes to direct Bond 23!

Just yesterday we got quotes from the producers who didn’t really know when filming on Bond 23 would begin (that’s what they said anyway) as MGM were in the process of selling themselves, however now according to Heat Vision they’ve got a director and the film is being fast-tracked!

It’s Mendes. Sam Mendes. The British helmer is in negotiations to direct the 23rd installment of the venerable James Bond franchise.

Production is being fast-tracked and could begin as early as June with an eye toward a 2011 release. Plans for the film are moving forward despite a possible sale of MGM. Sony co-produced and distributed the most recent installment of the 007 series with MGM.

It looks like the producers have gone for another artsy director following Marc Forster with Quantum of Solace. Mendes, who is married to the wonderful Kate Winslet, has directed films such as American Beauty (for which he won an Oscar for Best Director), Jarhead, Road to Perdition and Revolutionary Road.

Now they’ve got a director I suppose the next big announcement everyone will be waiting for is the title. Following the news that Mendes was in talks to direct, Twitter came up with a few suggestions:

“Bag. Plastic Bag.”

“The Spy Who Bickered With Me At Length”

“Thunderbawl”

“Revolutionary Rogue”

“Cry Another Day”

“From Russia with Wrong Feelings About My Daughter’s Best Friend”

“The Spy Who Made Me Watch a Discarded Plastic Bag”

“Dr. Know-It-All”