Sam Mendes doesn’t think he’s “controllable” enough to make another Bond

Riding high off his satirical send-up of superhero cinema, The Franchise, director Sam Mendes tells Inverse that he doesn’t anticipate another chance at James Bond. Mendes, who directed a series high (Skyfall) and a series snooze (Spectre), remains the only Best Director winner to helm the long-running franchise. However, he thinks 007’s producers want someone a little more “controllable.”

Mendes says studios aren’t looking for “people who have a big track record” to direct their tentpoles. They want “slightly more malleable people who are earlier in their career, who perhaps are going to use it as a stepping stone, and who are more controllable by the studio.” The American Beauty director doesn’t count himself among these “controllable” directors and, likewise, doesn’t anticipate a call from the Broccolis to return to the series.