Sam Mendes is back in the director's chair for the new Bond movie, Bond 24. The director was earlier non-committal about the new Bond flick and had said that he would not return to direct it.

In an interview given to Empire in March, 2013, Mendes had said that he would not be returning to direct Bond 24 due to theatre and other commitments. He said, "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."

Later he told The Guardian, "Was I willing to go straight back into a room with a writer and start work on the same set of characters and the same scenarios as I've been working on for the last three years? No. The idea made me feel physically ill. "

Responding to what he would say to disappointed fans of Bond franchisee, the maverick director, who brought his own sensibilities to the Bond movie and added depth to the character of James Bond, had said, "I say to them, my life is not a democracy. It's not up for discussion. What? Maybe I should go on to one of the [Bond] chat threads and change my mind? I don't think that's going to happen."

The Oscar-winning director seems to have a sudden change of heart and he gave credit to the producers for his decision. "I am very pleased that by giving me the time I need to honour all my theatre commitments, the producers have made it possible for me to direct Bond 24," Mendes said in a statement.

"I very much look forward to taking up the reins again, and to working with Daniel Craig, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli for a second time."

Mendes directed Skyfall is the highest-grossing Bond movie of the long-running James Bond franchisee. It collected $1.1 billion at the worldwide box office.

Daniel Craig will be reprising the role of the famous spy. Oscar winner John Logan has written the script of the movie, which is slated for a release in November 2015. "We're really excited to be working once again with Daniel Craig, Sam Mendes and John Logan," said producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.

Mendes directed West End musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory based on Roald Dahl's famous children book by the same name has opened to mixed reviews. The director will be directing Shakespeare's King Lear at the National Theatre in January 2014, according to BBC.