All jokes put aside as to the running length of No Time to Die, there are definitely problems in the timing department. Mere weeks before the 25th James Bon film’s debut in April, producers have pushed back its release until November because of…you guessed it, the Coronavirus.
That’s right. The Coronavirus has caused a seven month delay (!!!) on No Time to Die, not only one of the biggest movies of the year but one of most important to the franchise. Universal and MGM have become worried about the impact of the virus, aka COVID-19, on the global movie industry. With thousands infected around the world and many dying, the biggest movie markets have basically shut down. China and Japan are on lockdown, and others are in a similar situation. With the virus causing havoc here in America now, too, don’t be surprised to see the box office take a major hit.
A statement from the movie’s producers reads: “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.
Only days ago it was filming on Mission: Impossible 7 curtailed by the virus outbreak. That’s two of the biggest action franchises sidelined and it will likely get worse long before getting better. Despite the misinformation coming out of the White House, a vaccine is nowhere in sight, so who knows how long this could last. The gamble being made is that things will be cleared up by November, but who really knows? Don’t be surprised if this is just the start of a trend.
