AceShowbiz -

Sam Mendes is going to part ways with James Bond after the release of "Spectre". He has said in a new interview with BBC Radio's Test Match Special that the forthcoming 007 movie will likely be the last one to feature him as director.

"I said no to the last one and then ended up doing it, and was pilloried by all my friends. But I do think this is probably it," says Mendes, who also helmed the previous installment, 2012's "Skyfall".

He states that he's had a great experience working on the two Bond movies which took a total of five years to make. He, however, thinks the whole thing's "pretty much all encompassing" and is ready to have other filmmakers replace him.

"It feels almost, even though we've just finished shooting it, like one big experience and it was a fantastic life-changing thing," he explains. "It really is more a lifestyle choice than a job. I don't think I could go down that road again. You do have to put everything else on hold."

"Spectre", the 24th Bond movie, is scheduled to be released later this year. In the interview, Mendes additionally reveals that the theme song for the film has already been recorded, but he refuses to name the singer who performs it. "It's fantastic and I'm very excited about it," he says. "You won't have to wait long."