It's good to know that despite it being a new year and everything, we've not lost our ability to be proved wrong just 24 hours after posting a story. Yesterday, we reported the problems surrounding the next James Bond film, specifically that MGM's money problems were threatening to delay the green light needed to get the production moving. That meant that the planned Christmas 2011 release date could have been in some jeopardy.

Yet, barely had the virtual ink dried before The Hollywood Reporter dug up the story that, not only could Bond be going back before the cameras a little earlier than first thought, but there might already be a director attached to the project.

And the name that's being linked with the film? None other than Mr Sam Mendes, who looks set to follow in the footsteps of seemingly-unlikely Bond directors such as Michael Apted and Marc Forster. Mendes is best known for the film American Beauty, as well as the likes of Revolutionary Road, Road To Perdition and Away We Go, with the closest he's been to any kind of action film previously being Jarhead. He's not the most obvious choice for a Bond movie, but he could yet be an inspired one. And it's been said time and time again that it's the second unit and stunt teams who do all the action stuff anyway, so Mendes' lack of experience in that department shouldn't be a problem.

Production on the film could, it's being reported, begin as soon as June of this year, which would firmly plant the movie in a Christmas 2011 release slot.

For now, here's The Hollywood Reporter's piece.