Sam Mendes is stepping behind the camera for the first time since directing the last two Bond films, Skyfall & Spectre. The talented director is teaming up with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners to helm 1917, a new World War I drama.
The deal comes with a commitment to finance the movie to the tune of $100 million. Amblin is also securing a spot for a December 2019 release through the company’s distribution partner, Universal Pictures.
The plan is for Mendes, who is juggling stage commitments, to shoot the movie next year. The director is co-writing the project with Krysty Wilson-Cairn.
Mendes worked with Spielberg on his first two movies when the latter was running DreamWorks. The company was behind Mendes’ debut, 1999’s American Beauty, which won five Oscars, including best picture, as well as his follow-up, Road to Perdition, the 2002 gangster drama that starred Tom Hanks.
