LONDON — The global release of the new James Bond film No Time to Die was postponed on Wednesday by seven months amid the coronavirus disruption that has closed movie theaters in China and caused widespread headaches for other Hollywood productions.

The release of Daniel Craig’s last outing as agent 007, being distributed internationally by Universal Pictures, will be postponed from the start of April until November, producers said.

“After careful consideration and thorough evaluation of the global theatrical marketplace, the release of No Time To Die will be postponed until November 2020,” a posting on the official James Bond Twitter account said.

The posting made no specific reference to coronavirus but follows reports in entertainment trade media last week of the cancellation of plans for the film’s red carpet premiere in China, Hollywood’s biggest overseas market.

Movie theaters have been closed in China since January and other nations, including Japan, South Korea and parts of Italy, are also closing theaters in a bid to stem the spread of the virus.

The Bond franchise is one of the movie world’s most lucrative, with 2015’s Spectre raking in $880 million at the box office worldwide, while Skyfall in 2012 grossed more than $1 billion globally.

No Time to Die cost an estimated $200 million to produce and was due to open in movie theaters from April 2 after a world premiere in London on March 31.

The James Bond postponement followed coronavirus disruptions to filming new movies and TV shows and delays in releasing US movies in China.

A planned three-week shoot in Venice, Italy, for Tom Cruise’s new Mission: Impossible film was postponed last week due to the outbreak, and producers of the CBS television global competition show The Amazing Race said last week they had temporarily suspended filming of a new season.

James Bond fan sites had also written to the studios behind the film this week, urging for a delay.

“With the Coronavirus reaching pandemic status, it is time to put public health above marketing release schedules and the cost of canceling publicity events,” fan website MI6-HQ.com wrote in an open letter.

“We have all waited over four years for this film. Another few months will not damage the quality of the film and only help the box-office for Daniel Craig’s final hurrah,” the letter added.

Wednesday’s post said the film will now be released in the United Kingdom on Nov. 12 and in the United States on Nov. 25.

DISNEY+ LAUNCH CANCELED
Meanwhile, Walt Disney has canceled some events planned to promote the European launch of its channel Disney+, a competitor to Netflix and Amazon Prime which will show The Mandalorian, the latest in the Star Wars movie and TV franchise.

Celebrities and executives were due to take to the red carpet in London on Thursday to promote the streaming channel, which becomes available to subscribers in Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain on March 24.

The London Book Fair, a trade show for publishers that attracts 25,000 attendees from over 100 countries and was due to take place on March 10-12 has also been called off, organizers Reed Exhibitions said on Wednesday.

Both Disney and Reed cited concerns about international travel due to the coronavirus outbreak. — Reuters

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