Director Sam Mendes won’t return for Bond 24. Who will replace him?

Bond star Daniel Craig and songstress Adele may be set to return for the 24th installment of the franchise, but "Skyfall" director Sam Mendes has apparently decided to pass on the highly coveted followup gig.

Speaking with Empire at the BAFTAs a few weeks ago, Mendes said that a number of prior commitments prevent him from helming the sequel to the Oscar-winning "Skyfall."

“It has been a very difficult decision not to accept Michael and Barbara’s very generous offer to direct the next Bond movie," Mendes said, referring to longtime Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Brocolli. "Directing 'Skyfall' was one of the best experiences of my professional life, but I have theatre and other commitments."

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Mendes currently has stage productions of both "Charlie And The Chocolate Factory" and William Shakespeare's "King Lear" in the works, and believes that starting work on the next 007 film now would distract him from those efforts. However, the "American Beauty" director didn't rule out an eventual return to the franchise.

"I feel very honoured 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," he said.

Given "Skyfall's" enormous success both critically and financially (the film just surpassed $1.1 billion mark at the box office worldwide) it's likely that the producers of the series would be only too happy to have him back. A Bond movie comeback for Mendes in the future wouldn't be out of sorts for the super spy series. "GoldenEye" filmmaker Martin Campbell returned to the 007 universe after an 11-year absence to helm the Daniel Craig headlined semi-reboot "Casino Royale" in 2006, while early Bond movie directors Terence Young, Lewis Gilbert, and Guy Hamilton revisited the franchise throughout the 1960s and '70s.

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So, who might replace Mendes on Bond 24?

Campbell ruled himself out in a 2011 interview, saying that he'd "had enough" of the British secret agent after two big screen outings. However, his successful track record with 007 would make him a likely candidate for the job. With Mendes out and the studio eager to move ahead with Bond 24, Eon Productions may look to Campbell as a pinch hitter of sorts -- especially if they offered him a dump truck full of money. The stalwart action director's current schedule would likely make him available for the project, so consider him a possible contender.

There are other likely candidates as well. "Dark Knight" director Christopher Nolan has been saying for years that he wants to make a Bond movie, but other Warner Bros. comic book properties like "Man of Steel" (which he's producing) and "Justice League" (which he's rumoured to be involved with) may keep him out of the picture for now. Nolan is also currently developing a big-budget science fiction film called "Interstellar," which would likely rule out his involvement in Bond 24. Given his continued interest in the franchise, fans may get to see that Nolan-directed 007 adventure one day -- just maybe not the next Bond movie.

Which brings us to English filmmaker Danny Boyle. The Oscar-winning director of "Slumdog Millionaire," and movies like "Trainspotting" and "28 Days Later" has all the requisite talents and checkboxes required for a modern Bond filmmaker. He's from the U.K. (very few 007 directors were born outside of the United Kingdom), he can direct action (see "28 Days Later" and the upcoming "Trance"), and has that coveted Academy Award on his mantle. Combine all those factors with a clear post-"Trance" work schedule and Boyle looks like a definite possibility for Bond 24.

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Perhaps another contender will emerge soon or perhaps the studio will hire an American director (a series first) will be given a shot at Britain's most famous super spy. Who would you like to see direct Bond 24?