Sweet! Sam Mendes will direct next Bond film!

Despite rumors of Bond 23 being put on hold, the project is moving forward... with a director!

Oscar winner Sam Mendes will take on the next James Bond film, as the director is now in talks to helm the next installment in the popular spy series. That's good news, because Mendes is one of my favorite directors.

The decision to move ahead with the project comes as a surprise to me, especially considering MGM planned to put the project on hold until the company's financial struggles would be resolved. The plans have changed, however, and Bond 23 could be released 2011.

In fact, the Hollywood Reporter says production on the flick could kick off as early as June. Daniel Craig will return to reprise his role as James Bond, and Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and the great Peter Morgan are working on the script right now.

I love Mendes' stuff, and I can't say I've seen a film of his I didn't fully enjoy. His most recent efforts include "Away We Go" and "Revolutionary Road." "Road to Perdition" is still my favorite, and I'm sure he will bring even more freshness to the Bond franchise.

Many folks out there hated Marc Forster's "Quantum of Solace," but I really enjoyed it as a second part of "Casino Royale," which is quite simply one of the best Bonds in a long time. As a big Bond fan, I can't wait for the releasem of this next adventure.