Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
In the years following 2015’s extremely disappointing Spectre — especially considering that the franchise highs achieved by Skyfall — the production of “Bond 25” has been nothing short of a flaming trainwreck.
There was Daniel Craig previously claiming that he’d rather “slash his wrists” than play James Bond again. There was Danny Boyle’s (Steve Jobs, Trainspotting) departure as director and numerous script rewrites. Then, once the film actually began production, there was Craig’s ankle injury in May and the explosion at Pinewood Studios in June.
And yet, despite that, the movie has finally — finally — begun to come together, as we now have an official release date and title.
In a brief video pushed on social media, both the title — No Time To Die — and the release date — April 8, 2020 — were revealed.
No Time To Die, which sees Daniel Craig return to the role of James Bond for the fifth and final time, will also star Ralph Fiennes as M, Naomie Harris as Moneypenny, Ben Winshaw as Q, Jeffrey Wright as Felix, Ana de Armas as the film’s “Bond girl”, and Academy Award winner Rami Malik as the film’s primary antagonist.
Following Danny Boyle’s departure from the film’s director’s chair due to “creative differences”, Cary Joji Fukunaga — who is known for directing the entire first season of True Detective — took over the project, which features a script from Fukunaga, Scott Burns, and Fleabag and Killing Eve creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
Given that No Time To Die will be Craig’s final appearance as the iconic MI6 agent, fans of the franchise are hoping his fifth appearance ends on a high note similar to Casino Royale and Skyfall and less like Quantum of Solace and Spectre.