Back in March, it seemed like a safe bet to move No Time to Die, the 25th James Bond film, from April to November. Surely the pandemic would be under control by then, and movie theaters would be able to resume business as usual, or so we all thought. But as time has marched on, it’s become abundantly clear that that won’t be the case, prompting studios like Disney to call it quits and kick their 2020 offerings up to 2021. Considering how other pandemic releases have fared in the last few weeks and how hampered theaters still are, some James Bond fans have been left wondering if No Time to Die might similarly be pushed to a more promising date on the horizon.
That, however, doesn’t seem to be the case. Need proof? Look no further than the Thursday afternoon drop for Billie Eilish’s new music video, featuring the movie’s titular theme. The moody video, shot in black and white, shows the Grammy winner singing into a mic, spliced with footage from the upcoming movie. It’s a sleek encapsulation of her song, a spare, evocative number that pivots away from the more bombastic Bond theme tradition.
The song was originally released back in February, just a few weeks before No Time to Die was officially pushed from April to November. At the time, the 007 tentpole was the first major movie to be delayed due to coronavirus concerns; it was soon followed by a slew of other big-budget vehicles, including Black Widow, Avatar 2, and Top Gun: Maverick. Yet the studio has stayed firm with that November release date, which is now just a month and a half away.
At this rate, No Time to Die seems poised to be the next Tenet; that is, the next big-budget offering with enough cache to draw people to the movies and offer theater owners another lifeline at an extraordinarily difficult time. Tenet has faired well enough, considering the circumstances, grossing more than $280 million worldwide. It’s far from the normal cume for a Christopher Nolan joint, but still a strong haul for an original film. Of course, that sum would be low for a Bond film. But perhaps the franchise’s rich history—coupled with the fact that this marks Daniel Craig’s last time suiting up as 007—will help the film overcome the odds. No Time to Die is (still!) set to hit theaters on November 11.
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