James Bond director in talks to helm live-action James and the Giant Peach

Disney announced earlier this year that it had plans to take a couple of its most treasured animated films and turn them into live-action productions. One of those films, James and the Giant Peach, looks like it’s moving forward with Spectre and Skyfall director Sam Mendes in early negotiations to direct.

According to Variety, negotiations are still in the preliminary stages, but Disney wants to start making a move and get into pre-production as soon as possible. Award-winning author and celebrated screenwriter Nick Hornby is also in early negotiations to pen the film, which is based on the Roald Dahl book.

The original James and the Giant Peach was released in 1996 and directed by Henry Selick, best known for helming Tim Burton’s classic Nightmare Before Christmas and Laika Entertainment’s Coraline. The film starred the voice talents of Richard Dreyfuss, Simon Callow and Susan Sarandon, among others.

James and the Giant Peach is just another in Disney’s line of live-action remakes, following the recently released Jungle Book and the upcoming Beauty and the Beast film starring Emma Watson. There’s currently no estimated release date for the project.