'Skyfall' director Sam Mendes turns down offer for 'Bond 24'

Sam Mendes will not be directing the next James Bond Flick, “Bond 24”, as it is currently dubbed. According to reports, he’s opted out of directing the follow-up to his successful Bond-franchise debut in Skyfall, which earned praise from the critics and big bucks at the box office.

Empire Online reported that Mendes has cited the need to dedicate his full focus to theatre commitments as rationale for his decision to opt out from the next Bond blockbuster.

"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," Mendes said in an interview this week.

Right now a lot of names are being thrown around for his successor, with few promising leads.

William Hill, a London bookie whale, has released odds for the next Bond director and is taking bets, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Guy Ritchie is a favorite right now at four-to-one, with Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorcese included in the pool. Of course, 4-1 odds make the decision anything but a certainty at this point.