James Bond in film approach" with the score. Jack White of The White Stripes and Alicia Keys collaborated on "Another Way to Die", the first Bond music duet. The production of "Skyfall" was suspended throughout 2010 because of MGM's financial troubles. Eon resumed pre-production following MGM's exit from bankruptcy on 21 December 2010 and in January 2011 the film was given official approval, with production scheduled to start in late 2011. The film's budget is estimated to be between $150 million and $200 million, compared to the $200 million spent on "Quantum of Solace". "Skyfall" was directed by Sam Mendes, who first signed on
Sam Mendes "The Rise and Fall of Little Voice", Harold Pinter's "The Birthday Party", and "Othello" with Simon Russell Beale as Iago. In 1990 Mendes was appointed artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse, a studio space in London's Covent Garden which he helped transform into one of the city's more notable theatre venues. He spent his first two years overseeing the redesign of the theatre, and his opening production was Stephen Sondheim's "Assassins" in 1992. Several successful productions followed. In 1993 Mendes staged an acclaimed revival of John Kander and Fred Ebb's "Cabaret" starring Jane Horrocks as Sally Bowles, Alan Cumming as