The movie, starring Daniel Craig as the stylish spy, was set to open April 2. But MGM announced on Thursday that it would be shifting the action movie to October 8.
This is the third time the film has been delayed since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. It was originally scheduled to open in North American theaters on April 10, 2020.
The changing schedule of “No Time to Die” is a symbol of the impact of the pandemic on Hollywood. The 25th film in the Bond series was the first major movie to be delayed due to the pandemic, but it was far from the last.
Other films, such as Warner Bros. “Wonder Woman 1984,” did a hybrid release that began in theaters and appeared on HBO Max on the same day. Some movies, such as Pixar’s “Soul” and Disney’s “Mulan” have skipped US theaters and have completely chosen to debut on streaming.
The delay of “No Time to Die” is a huge blow to theater owners who are desperate to get the audience back. Still, moving the movie to a later date is a strong signal that it could take months for things to return to normal in the movie.
Sony also said Thursday that “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” the sequel to the hit Ghostbusters franchise, is moving from June 6 to November 11.
Now theater owners, whose businesses have been devastated by the outbreak, and the rest of Hollywood are watching to see if another batch of blockbuster will be delayed in the coming weeks.
The next big movies on the calendar are “Black Widow”, which is scheduled for May 7, and “F9,” which is scheduled for May 28.