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| No Time To Die, which is due to be Daniel Craig’s final appearance as the British secret service agent 007, had been due for release on April 3 |
The global release of the new James Bond film โNo Time to Dieโ was postponed on Wednesday by seven months amid the coronavirus disruption that has closed movie theaters in China and caused widespread headaches for other Hollywood productions.
The release of Daniel Craigโs last outing as agent 007, being distributed internationally by Universal Pictures , will be postponed from the start of April until November, producers said.
โAfter careful consideration and thorough evaluation of the global theatrical marketplace, the release of NO TIME TO DIE will be postponed until November 2020,โ a posting on the official James Bond Twitter account said.
The posting made no specific reference to coronavirus but follows reports in entertainment trade media last week of the cancellation of plans for the filmโs red carpet premiere in China, Hollywoodโs biggest overseas market.
Movie theaters have been closed in China since January and other nations, including Japan, South Korea and parts of Italy, are also closing theaters in a bid to stem the spread of the virus.
The Bond franchise is one of the movie worldโs most lucrative, with 2015โs โSpectreโ raking in $880 million at the box office worldwide, while โSkyfallโ in 2012 grossed more than $1 billion globally.
โNo Time to Dieโ cost an estimated $200 million to produce and was due to open in movie theaters from April 2 after a world premiere in London on March 31.
The James Bond postponement followed coronavirus disruptions to filming new movies and TV shows and delays in releasing U.S. movies in China.
A planned three-week shoot in Venice, Italy, for Tom Cruiseโs new โMission: Impossibleโ film was postponed last week due to the outbreak, and producers of the CBS television global competition show โThe Amazing Raceโ said last week they had temporarily suspended filming of a new season.
James Bond fan sites had also written to the studios behind the film this week, urging for a delay.
โWith the Coronavirus reaching pandemic status, it is time to put public health above marketing release schedules and the cost of canceling publicity events,โ fan website MI6-HQ.com wrote in an open letter.
โWe have all waited over 4 years for this film. Another few months will not damage the quality of the film and only help the box-office for Daniel Craigโs final hurrah,โ the letter added.
Wednesdayโs post said the film will now be released in the United Kingdom on Nov. 12 and in the United States on Nov. 25
REUTERS
