“No Time To Die” is shifting its release date to Nov. 25, 2020 in the U.S. from its planned April 10 opening due to coronavirus concerns.
The 25th James Bond film will also shift its release date abroad, including first premiering in the U.K. on Nov. 12. Worldwide release dates will follow.
“MGM, Universal and Bond producers, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, announced today that after careful consideration and thorough evaluation of the global theatrical marketplace, the release of No Time to Die will be postponed until November 2020. The film will be released in the U.K. on November 12, 2020 with worldwide release dates to follow, including the U.S. launch on November 25, 2020,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
A spokesperson told TheWrap that the studio and producers are considering the global market place when it comes to releasing “No Time To Die,” and when it comes to the James Bond franchise internationally, which last released a film five years ago with 2015’s “Spectre,” it was clear that the fears over coronavirus would prevent the film from having the greatest chance of success.
“No Time To Die” is star Daniel Craig’s fifth and final outing as 007. It’s directed by American Cary Joji Fukunaga and co-stars Rami Malek, Ana de Armas, Léa Seydoux, Christoph Waltz, Ralph Fiennes, Billy Magnussen, Naomie Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Lashana Lynch and Ben Whishaw.
MGM has already released a number of trailers and done heavy advertising leading up to the film’s release, including a teaser trailer during the Super Bowl. Craig is even supposed to host “Saturday Night Live” this coming weekend in advance of the film. But the coronavirus outbreak has already derailed the China release of films like “Sonic the Hedgehog,” and while the U.S. release date for “Mulan” remains unchanged, the Disney film will open overseas at a later date, but no date has been announced.
Earlier in the week, Bond fan site MI6-HQ actually called on the producers and studios to delay the film’s release over fears of the coronavirus.
“No Time To Die” now opens in the U.S. alongside Disney’s animated film “Raya and the Last Dragon,” Warner Bros. biopic “King Richard” starring Will Smith, and TriStar’s holiday comedy “Happiest Season.”
MGM, Universal and Bond producers, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, announced today that after careful consideration and thorough evaluation of the global theatrical marketplace, the release of NO TIME TO DIE will be postponed until November 2020. pic.twitter.com/a9h1RP5OKd
— James Bond (@007) March 4, 2020