A few weeks back, we published a piece detailing the rumors of Sam Mendes’ potential return to the James Bond franchise with its next installment (for now referred to simply as “Bond 24“). While he didn’t rule out the possibility of directing the picture, he offered enough caveats to maintain uncertainty. As of today, he’s given a solid answer, but it’s not the one we wanted to hear: Mendes will not be directing the next Bond movie. At least the news doesn’t come as a huge surprise. Speaking to Empire, he revealed that the decision stems from his prior theater commitments; he’s directing both King Lear and Charlie and the…