Director Sam Mendes will be directing the next James Bond movie. The film is due to be released in 2015. The Skyfall director will work with Daniel Craig, who will be reprising his role as the secret agent. The writer of the previous film, John Logan, will also return to write the next script.

Sam Mendes
Sam Mendes at the Charlie And The Chocolate Factory Press Night, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. 

The dates for release have already been confirmed. UK cinema goers will be able to see the film two weeks earlier than their American counterparts. The UK release date is set for 23rd October 2015 and the US for 6th November.

Producers of Skyfall, Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, made the announcement yesterday (Thursday 11th July), they said "we're really excited to be working once again with Daniel Craig, Sam Mendes and John Logan."

Sam Mendes said he was equally excited to work with "Daniel Craig, Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli for a second time" as well as "taking up the reins again".

Michael G. WilsonMichael G. Wilson at the 2013 Empire Awards, London 

Indeed, the two producers have made time for Mendes' theatre commitments (he has recently directed a musical adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). On the matter he said "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."

Broccoli and Wilson have worked together on all James Bond films since 1995's GoldenEye, starring Pierce Brosnan as 007. Wilson has been involved in producing Bond films since Roger Moore's Moonraker in 1979. 

The group do seem to make a winning combination as Skyfall grossed over $1 billion in 2012. 

Daniel Craig
Daniel Craig at a Range Rover event in New York.