New James Bond Film Release Delayed Due to Coronavirus

No Time To Die, the 25th James Bond film, has had its release pushed back to November due to the current coronavirus outbreak.

In a statement via the film's Twitter, "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 US launch on November 25, 2020."

Per The Hollywood Reporter, a number of publicity tours, including ones in China, South Korea and Japan, were canceled once to coronavirus began to spread in that region. Before now, the film's release in Hong Kong was already pushed back. Sources also told The Hollywood Reporter, "Eon Productions' Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson drove the decision to make the dramatic move because of 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."

The Hollywood Reporter also notes popular Bond fan blog MI6-HQ wrote an open letter to Eon, MGM and Universal where they stated, "With the Coronavirus reaching pandemic status, it is time to put public health above marketing release schedules and the cost of canceling publicity events."