IT'S OFFICIAL: 'Skyfall' Director Sam Mendes Will Return to Helm Next 'James Bond' Film

After months of back and forth, it's official — Sam Mendes will return to direct the next James Bond movie. Despite originally passing on the sequel, Mendes was wooed back by Sony. With Skyfall turning in the best box office performance in Bond history and with the film winning two Oscars, Sony kicked the tires on a couple other directors but always wanted to make Mendes happen again. The director had originally passed because he wanted to focus on a play and other projects, but it seems like he worked those issues out with the studio.

"I am very pleased that by giving me the time I need to honor all my theater commitments, the producers have made it possible for me to direct Bond 24. I very much look forward to taking up the reins again, and to working with Daniel Craig, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli for a second time,” said Mendes in a statement.

Daniel Craig will return as Bond, and despite some reports that the next two Bond films would be shot together with Mendes directing both, we only received word on Thursday about Mendes directing Bond 24. I guess we'll have to wait to hear if the rest of those plans shake out.

The 24th James Bond film will hit theaters on Nov. 6, 2015, adding another exciting to film to a year that's already shaping up to be jam-packed with potential blockbusters. Can imagine the box office numbers that will be broken with The Avengers 2, Star Wars: Episode VII, a Skyfall sequel, the Terminator reboot, Independence Day 2, Pirates of the Caribbean 5, Ant-Man, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2 and Finding Dory all opening in the same year? Geez ...