(Photo: AP)
After an 18-month delay, the James Bond film No Time To Die finally begins its cinema rollout this week. A relief for its stars and movie theatre operators.
The movie was originally scheduled to debut in April 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic. But cinemas are close and impose restrictions on audience numbers.
Costing an estimated USD 200 million to produce, No Time To Die, the 25th Bond film has been delayed three times since the start of the pandemic. Despite this, its producers have held out to make sure it is released in cinemas.
Bond films are one of Hollywood’s most valuable franchises, with the last two, 2015’s Spectre and 2012’s Skyfall. They grossing USD 880 million and more than USD 1 billion respectively globally.
On Monday, London-based cinema operator Odeon said No Time To Die was “set to be the biggest opening at ODEON cinemas since summer 2019”, and it has sold more than 175,000 tickets.
UK cinemas began reopening in May, albeit with social distancing measures. As these have eased, admissions across the country have increased from 3.5 million in May to 10.4 million in August, according to the UK Cinema Association.
“For Daniel also because it’s his last Bond, it’s nice to be all together.”