The COVID-19 outbreak has already caused serious damage to the film industry in the Asian market where it has been decided to postpone the premieres of some of the most anticipated productions of the first quarter of the year. In the West, confirmed cases of coronavirus are on the rise, so James Bond fans have asked producers and distributors for 007: No Time To Die to delay their premiere until summer.
In an open letter, the co-founders of MI6 HQ, the largest website for James Bond fans worldwide, and responsible for publishing the official MI6 Confidential magazine, have asked Eon, MGM and Universal to reconsider their decision to release the new film of 007 at the beginning of April.
“After enduring three delays in production already, it is by no means easy to say this: the release of ‘No Time To Die’ should be postponed.
With the Coronavirus reaching pandemic status, it is time to put public health above marketing release schedules and the cost of canceling publicity events,” expressed the letter.
In the case of 007: With No Time To Die, the press tour that was planned with cast members from the film in China, South Korea and Japan have had to be canceled. In these countries, several local theaters have closed their doors as a measure to prevent the proliferation of the virus. The authors of the letter do not rule out that this outbreak can be replicated very soon in the United States.
“With a month to go before ‘No Time To Die’ opens worldwide, community spread of the virus is likely to be peaking in the United States. Today, Washington declared a state of emergency. There is a significant chance that cinemas will be closed, or their attendance severely reduced, by early April. Even if there are no legal restrictions on cinemas being open, to quote M in Skyfall, “how safe do you feel?”” said the authors.
Regarding the world premiere of the film scheduled for March 31 in London, the authors noted that the capacity of the Royal Albert Hall is above the limit of 5,000 people which in countries affected by the coronavirus have established as a means to reduce infection in public meetings.
The co-founders of MI6 HQ also point out that postponing the premiere would be an intelligent criterion to benefit the film’s box office since countries such as Italy, France, Switzerland, Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea, where serious actions are being taken to contain the virus, represent $313 million of the $881 MDD at the box office of 007: Specter (2015), that is, 38 percent of its earnings.
“Delay the release of ‘No Time To Die’ until the summer when experts expect the epidemics to have peaked and to be under control. It’s just a movie. The health and well-being of fans around the world, and their families, is more important. We have all waited over 4 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,” they explained voicing their concern for the public.
The new installment of 007 is directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga ( True Detective ) and features a script by Phoebe Waller-Bridge ( Fleabag ). The cast includes the returns of Daniel Craig (James Bond), Ralph Fiennes (M), Naomie Harris (Eve Moneypenny), Léa Seydoux (Madeleine Swann), Ben Whishaw (Q), Rory Kinnear (Bill Tanner) and Jeffrey Wright. New faces include Ana de Armas, Lashana Lynch and Rami Malek. Singer and songwriter Billie Eilish will perform the main theme.
