No Time to Die‘s Release Pushed to November Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
Photos by Nicola Dove/Danjaq LLC & MGM
The theatrical release of Cary Joji Fukunaga’s No Time to Die has been delayed from April 8 to Nov. 25, with the coronavirus outbreak reportedly to blame. The decision reflects the first major shockwave felt by Hollywood as the disease’s spread continues.
The delay of Daniel Craig’s final outing as James Bond was announced by MGM, Universal, and Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli on Wednesday, with “careful consideration and thorough evaluation of the global theatrical marketplace” cited as the reason for their decision:
The film will be released in the U.K. on November 12, 2020 with worldwide release dates to follow, including the US launch on November 25, 2020.
— James Bond (@007) March 4, 2020
Multiple outlets report that No Time to Die’s postponement is a direct result of the coronavirus outbreak—THR highlights “the ongoing cinema blackout in China and a downturn in moviegoing in markets where COVID-19 is a major issue, including South Korea, Italy and Japan,” as well as “concern that by early April, other markets could be impacted,” as key factors in the decision, while EW notes that “a massive online fan petition .. urged the studio to push the premiere as concerns over the coronavirus continue to spread as fast as the illness itself.”