Sam Mendes Locked for 'Bond 24', Likely for 'Bond 25'

This is what happens when you deliver - far and away- the most successful James Bond film of all-time.

Skyfall and Academy Award winning director Sam Mendes has signed-on to helm Bond 24, and is likely for Bond 25 as well.

It's regular with James Bond films that even though the same actor stay on for a number of pics, different directors are brought in each time to bring their own flavor or style to the franchise.  That is obviously not the case with Sam Mendes, as Sony, MGM, and EON Productions  all saw how both commercially and critically great Skyfall was and did everything in their power to keep him around for as long as possible.

Mendes is said to be getting a huge payday for a Bond 24/Bond 25 deal as well as the creative freedom to develop the next two installments at his own pace while finishing up his stage and theater commitments.

Word is Bond 24 won't hit until 2016(!) because of this, but Sony and the other powers-that-be felt it was worth the wait to deliver a film that can equal or top Skyfall.

My only question is, how much longer can Daniel Craig keep going after this?  Will Bond 25 be his swan song and a new actor brought in to kick start the next 25 films of Bond?  He'll be past 50 when this is all said and done so maybe this will be it for the actor.

Whatever the case, it's a great move for the franchise, and a great move for Sam Mendes bank account.

Source: Showbiz 411