Sam Mendes directing Bond 23 not guaranteed. Yet.

Yesterday it was announced that Road to Perdition director Sam Mendes was in talks to direct Bond 23. Usually when it is reported that directors are in ‘negotiations’ or ‘talks’ it is generally assumed that they will end up directing as there is rarely a follow-up on how the negotiations went. However, the situation with MGM means that nothing can be made 100% official until they find a buyer and sort out their finances.

Bond fansite Mi6 contacted Mendes’ publicist who confirmed that he was in talks, but she said it wasn’t official just yet.

“I can confirm that he has had a meeting, but Sam always has lots of projects on the table that he might direct next,” Keene said. “Sam’s method is to have a number of projects as possible next films and at some point to confirm which film he’s going to do.”

According to Nikki Finke at Deadline Hollywood producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are in final negotiations to bring Mendes on-board as a ‘consultant’.

“The producers are working on a deal to bring Sam on as consultant with an eye to direct,” one of my insiders says. “Once they put him on as the director, something happens to the contract in terms of ownership. But let me emphasize there’s not any deal done.”

It seems they don’t want to hire Mendes as director officially until MGM have sorted themselves out, and the Bond rights have an solid home. It would only complicate things if they hire a director now, but have to ship the rights around in a few months time.