The China premiere of upcoming James Bond film No Time To Die has been canceled due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Previously known as Bond 25, No Time To Die will mark Daniel Craig’s last time playing the character. Speculation about who might take over the role has abounded in the last year or so. In the new film, Captain Marvel’s Lashana Lynch will be given a 00-number. However, she won’t actually be taking over as Bond, as she’s playing a different character entirely.
Anticipation for No Time To Die continues to grow as the film approaches its April release date. A new TV spot debuted during the Super Bowl earlier this month, which showed Craig and Lynch’s characters working together. Impressively, the No Time To Die trailer was the most expensive to air during the game. The movie also made headlines this week when singer Billie Eilish released her theme song for Bond 25. In past films, artists such as Adele, Madonna, and Sam Smith have had the same honor.
Per Deadline, the No Time To Die cancellation involves the film’s Beijing premiere and press tour in China, neither of which will happen now. None of the movie’s cast will appear in China to promote the film due to the coronavirus quarantine, as well as “uncertainty surrounding the evolution of the epidemic.” Coronavirus has had a massive impact on China’s entertainment industry. Chinese movie theaters closed, and many blockbuster film releases were postponed. Theme parks in the country have also suffered, with Disneyland in Shanghai shutting down.
One perhaps unexpected side effect of coronavirus is an increased interest in disease-related games and movies. The 2011 film Contagion saw an increase in streaming views thanks to the movie’s focus on a global outbreak. The mobile game Plague Inc. also experienced more sales than usual, prompting the game’s developer to release a statement. In it, they warned players that Plague Inc. is “not a scientific model.” It’s understandable that people would turn to relevant entertainment as curiosity about coronavirus increases, especially in the States. However, as the developers of Plague Inc. reminded players, it’s important not to take them as fact.
Though James Bond fans are probably disappointed to hear this news about No Time To Die, it seems like a good call. Better safe than sorry is always a good rule of thumb, especially when something as dangerous as coronavirus is involved. Even though fans won’t get to see Craig, Lynch, and others in person, hopefully they will still get to see the film at some point. No Time To Die may be Craig’s last movie as Bond, but there will be others.
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Source: Deadline
- Bond 25 Release Date: 2021-10-08
