It's time for a new Bond director: Mendes

Sam Mendes says directing the James Bond films has been "an incredible adventure", but that it's "time for someone else" to take over.

Daniel Craig, right, appears with Eva Green in the 2006 James Bond film, "Casino Royale." Source: Sony

Sam Mendes is finished with James Bond.

The acclaimed British director of Skyfall and SPECTRE says it's "time for someone else" to take the helm of the long-running spy series.

Mendes told an audience on Saturday at the Hay Festival of literature in Wales that directing Bond films had been "an incredible adventure".

But, he says, "I'm a storyteller and at the end of the day I want to make stories with new characters."

There's been no announcement about whether Daniel Craig will return as 007 for the 25th Bond film.

Tom Hiddleston and Idris Elba are among his rumoured replacements, but Mendes says lobbying by fans is pointless.

"It's not a democracy ... (Producer) Barbara Broccoli decides who is going to be the next Bond, end of story," he says.