Overview
James Bond might have no time to die in the espionage franchise's upcoming 25th instalment, but audiences now have plenty time to wait until they see the film. Originally slated to hit cinemas worldwide in early April, No Time to Die's release has been pushed back seven months, with 007's latest action-packed antics — and Daniel Craig's last stint as the suave spy — now reaching the big screen in November.
In a Tweet, studios MGM and Universal, as well as Bond producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, announced that the movie has been delayed "after careful consideration and thorough evaluation of the global theatrical marketplace". The film will now drop seven months after its original release date, releasing in the UK and Australia on November 12, and the US on November 25.
The brief statement doesn't mention the specifics behind the decision, but the move comes amid growing concerns about the impact of the coronavirus, COVID-19, on the film industry. With the virus continuing to spread around the world, cinemas in some countries have been temporarily shuttered in an attempt to stop mass gatherings and help contain the infection. While that's currently only the case in China, Iran, South Korea, Japan, Italy and France, it's a tactic that could be rolled out elsewhere.
Just this week, two Bond fan sites wrote an open letter calling for No Time to Die's postponement due to the coronavirus pandemic — in the name of public safety. Of course, there's clearly a financial motive behind MGM and Universal's decision to follow suit. Cinema closures, especially in huge markets such as China, obviously affect a movie's box office earnings.
Although nothing else has been announced as yet, don't be surprised if other big movies take No Time to Die's lead and shift their release dates for the same reason. Plenty of other huge titles, such as Black Widow, Fast and Furious 9, Wonder Woman 1984 and Top Gun: Maverick are all currently scheduled to release in the upcoming months — and therefore face the same public health and financial concerns.
Revisit the No Time to Die trailer below:
No Time to Die was originally due to release in cinemas on April 8, but will now release in Australia on November 12.
Top image: Nicola Dove © 2019 DANJAQ, LLC AND MGM. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.