After what seemed like a back-and-forth of yeses and noes, Sam Mendes has finalized a deal with Sony Pictures to direct the untitled James Bond 24 with Daniel Craig returning once again to star.

The announcement was made earlier today, and Skyfall screenplay writer John Logan will return to pen the script. The studio also announced October 23, 2015 release date for the UK and November 6, 2015 release dates for the US. That means that Bond 24 would be opening up against Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man. With those two pics opening up against each other, Disney will most likely switch the release date so that it won’t be in direct competition with such a heavy hitter.

The James Bond 24 rumor mill continues to grow more and more. Last week, most of the attention for Bond 24 was centered on the return of director Sam Mendes. Reports had the filmmaker returning for back-to-back directorial efforts. Despite the workload that nearly forced him out of the director’s chair, there are strong indications that he will return for at least one more. With the possibility of one thing being out of the way, attention is now turned to casting.

Rumor has it that Penelope Cruz is in talks to play the female lead in Bond 24.

It was recently reported that Skyfall director Sam Mendes was likely to return to direct Bond 24. This comes after repeated exclamations that he would not return to direct due to his obligation to produce the theatrical version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and an adaptation of King Lear.

However, the director reportedly entered into talks with EON Productions and Sony Pictures to come back direct another Bond film. Now, there are a few more details coming out of those talks which are pinning the filmmaker to possibly directing not one but two James Bond films.

According to ShowBiz411, Mendes is coming back for Bond 24 and will end up directing Bond 25 as well.

Back in March it was reported that Skyfall director Sam Mendes would not be returning to direct the next installment in the mega franchise, known only as James Bond 24 at the moment.

But in Hollywood things seem to change every second, and now Mendes is back in the picture. It’s being reported that the director has entered into negotiations with MGM and Sony Pictures to return for Bond 24, which will once again star Daniel Craig as the legendary spy.

Last year Skyfall brought the James Bond franchise roaring back to life after a four-year-long hiatus due primarily to the financial difficulties of the once mighty studio MGM. Under the direction of Academy Award-winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition), Skyfall became the definitive Bond film for many, earned critical raves, and was the first movie in the series to gross over $1 billion worldwide. Mendes’ intelligent handling of the material and the performances he elicited from series leads Daniel Craig and Dame Judi Dench were credited rightfully for a major part of the film’s creative and commercial success and it had been assumed that the director would return to helm the next outing for Ian Fleming‘s iconic superspy.

Sadly that does not look to be so. Mendes said in a recent interview with Empire that he’s turned down an offer from the producers to direct the next Bond film.