The release of the James Bond film No Time to Die has been delayed again. On Friday, MGM, Universal and the film’s producers, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, tweeted that the film will now premiere globally on April 2, 2021.
No Time To Die was originally set to open in April 2020 but was delayed until November 12 in the UK and November 20 in the US. It was one of the first Hollywood blockbusters to cancel its premiere prior to the coronavirus pandemic lockdown in the US. The film, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, stars Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch and Ana de Armas.
A number of studios have shuffled their release dates for films in the past few weeks since cinemas in major American markets, such as New York and Los Angeles, remain closed. Warner Bros.’ Tenet, which was delayed several times, finally opened in the US, but ticket sales have been disappointing. So far, the $200 spy thriller has grossed $284 million worldwide, making it the fourth highest-grossing film of 2020. The Observer estimates that the film will need to make $450 to 500 million in order to break even.
Last week, The Walt Disney Co. delayed the planned 2020 release of Marvel’s Black Widow and Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story until 2021. Universal Pictures has also delayed Candyman until next year. Some films are still planning a holiday release. Wonder Woman 1984 is scheduled to be released in North America on December 25, while Kenneth Branagh’s Death on the Nile is set to premiere on December 18.
No Time to Die, which had a budget of $250 million, reportedly cost millions more to promote. The studio is said to have lost millions when the film was initially delayed. Investors hope that by waiting until audiences across the world can safely return to theaters the film will have a chance at making a profit.
Source: HuffPost