James Bond director Sam Mendes says Spectre will be his last 007 movie

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Eric Garcia

Washington Bureau Chief

Sam Mendes has confirmed that he will not direct any more James Bond movies after Spectre.

The director achieved huge success with Skyfall in 2012 and is back for another instalment with Daniel Craig in the lead, but wants to shift his focus back to the theatre once it hits cinemas on 26 October.

“I said ‘No’ to the last one and then ended up doing it and was pilloried by all my friends,” he told Jonathan Agnew on BBC Radio 5 during the Lord Test Match between England and Australia.

“I do think this is probably it. I think five years for the two movies, it feels now almost, even though we’ve only just finished shooting it, like one big experience.”

Mendes described the prestigious Bond job as “more a lifestyle choice than a job” as everything else has to be put “on hold”.

The 49-year-old former husband of actress Kate Winslet said he is happiest when “rehearsing a play or editing a movie” but longs to return to the theatre environment where he feels most at home.

“It feels controllable after the chaos of a movie set,” he said. “But it won’t be long before I want to do another film, and I’m very, very fortunate to be able to go back and forth between the two.”

Spectre has been shot in more places than Skyfall was, including Mexico City, Tangiers, the Northern Sahara, Rome, the Alps and London, so no wonder the team are exhausted.