It's Mendes. Sam Mendes. The British director 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. Daniel Craig will play 007 for a third time. The MGM film will be Mendes' first action-heavy project, though his 2005 effort “Jarhead” was set amid US war in Kuwait.
