James Bond 24 Movie News Update: Director Sam Mendes Will Not Return For 24th Installment

British director Sam Mendes announced that he will not return for the 24th installment of James Bond.

The director said that despite of helming "Skyfall," the most successful film in the series, he needed to focus of his theater commitments. Mendes stated "Directing Skyfall was one of the best experiences of my professional life, but I have theatre and other commitments, including productions of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory and King Lear, that need my complete focus over the next year and beyond."

The director recently told Bond producers Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli of his decision not to direct the 24th installment. He stated "It has been a very difficult decision not to accept Michael and Barbara's very generous offer to direct the next Bond movie."  Mendes however did not rule out the possibility of returning to the series and said "I feel very honored to have been part of the Bond family and very much hope I have a chance to work with them again sometime in the future."

Wilson and Broccoli told Empire that "We would have loved to have made the next film with him but completely respect his decision to focus on other projects and hope to have the opportunity to collaborate with him again."  

Mendes won the Academy Award for Best Director in 1999 for "American Beauty." He then directed "Road to Perdition" and Revolutionary Road" with Kate Winslet and Leonardo Dicaprio.

"Skyfall" received 5 Academy Award nominations and won 2 for Adele Adkin's Song "Skyfall," the film also won an award for Sound Editing. "Skyfall was also the recipient of 2 BAFTA awards including Best British Film.

Daniel Craig is slated to reprise the role of Bond with Ralph Fiennes and Ben Whishaw in the 24^th film. John Logan will write the script and the movie is slated for release in 2014.