Release of James Bond film No Time To Die pushed back seven months due to coronavirus

Fearful of the global impact of coronavirus, producers decide to hold back the release date of No Time To Die for several months.

The release of the James Bond film No Time To Die has been pushed back several months because of global concerns about coronavirus.

MGM, Universal and producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli announced on Twitter that the film would be pushed back from its April release to November 2020.

The announcement cited consideration of the global theatrical marketplace in the decision to delay the release of the film. No Time To Die will now hit theatres in the UK on November 12 and worldwide on November 25.

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

The Bond films make a significant portion of their profits from international markets. The last film, Spectre, made more than $679 million from overseas theatres in 2015 with more than $84 million of that total coming from China. Concerns had already been brewing around the imminent release and the global outbreak.

Publicity plans in China, Japan and South Korea had previously been cancelled. And on Monday, the popular James Bond fan site MI6-HQ published an open letter to the producers urging them to delay the film’s rollout.

“It is time to put public health above marketing release schedules and the cost of cancelling publicity events,” the letter said.

James Bond film delayed.#NoTimeToDie pic.twitter.com/zzcke6kFrA

— Maurice van Berkel (@Mvan_berkel) March 4, 2020

Hollywood film release and production schedules have already been affected by the outbreak. Last week, Paramount Pictures halted production on the seventh Mission: Impossible film, which had been scheduled to shoot in Venice, Italy.

The studio also postponed the Chinese release of Sonic the Hedgehog. The coronavirus outbreak emerged in China and has spread globally. In all, more than 94,000 people have contracted the virus worldwide, with more than 3,200 deaths.

AP