'No Time To Die': release date for latest James Bond film finally set for September

The film, which is expected to be one of the year's biggest blockbusters, has suffered several delays owing to the pandemic

'No Time to Die' is set for its UK premiere in September. Nicola Dove

The new James Bond film No Time To Die finally set a world premiere date on Friday, despite speculation in the entertainment industry that the film's release might be delayed for a fourth time because of the coronavirus epidemic.

A posting on the official @007 Bond Twitter account said the red carpet world premiere for the Universal Pictures and MGM film would take place in London on September 28, ahead of the planned September 30 release date in UK cinemas.

It is due to be released in the United States on October 8.

The release date for No Time to Die has been moved three times from its original April 2020 slot since the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020, as cinemas around the world closed their doors and restrictions were placed on audience capacity.

James Bond films are among the most valuable franchises in Hollywood, with 2015's Spectre raking in $880 million at the box office worldwide, while in 2012, Skyfall grossed more than $1 billion globally.

The latest installment, which cost an estimated $200 million to produce, marks Daniel Craig's last outing as the British secret agent, and is among the most anticipated potential blockbusters this year.

However, the Delta variant of Covid-19 has led to a rise in infections in the United States and elsewhere, raising concern about whether audiences will feel safe sitting in cinemas.

Box office receipts for recent big releases, including Black Widow and The Suicide Squad, have been disappointing as Hollywood studios have released some films on streaming platforms.

Takings at the box office for North America are running about 50 per cent behind the same period in 2019, according to Variety.

Sony Corp's movie studio last week delayed the release of superhero sequel Venom: Let There Be Carnage by nearly a month to mid-October.

- Additional reporting from Reuters