Sam Mendes to Direct New James Bond Film?

Courtesy of INFDaily.com

007 turns over a new leaf.

James Bond is about to get an artistic makeover. At least, that's what could happen if deals go through to make Academy Award winner Sam Mendes, the man behind films like American Beauty and Road to Perdition, the director for the upcoming sequel.

Word is out from The Hollywood Reporter that Mendes is in talks to helm the upcoming installment in the Bond franchise. It will be the 23rd film in the series.

Production of a sequel to 2008's Quantum of Solace was almost severely delayed by rumors that MGM would be sold, but now it appears all signs are go. The film is reportedly being fast-tracked for a release as early as 2011, with shooting possibly starting in June.

Mendes, the husband of Academy Award-winning actres Kate Winslet, shot to fame with his work on 1999's American Beauty, for which he won an Academy Award for best director. Since then he has worked on films like Road to Perdition, Revolutionary Road (starring his wife and Leonardo DiCaprio) and most recently on the indie comedy Away We Go.

It's anyone's guess what a Bond movie directed by Mendes will look like, but check out 2005's Jarhead, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, to get an idea of what he can do with action.