The delays for No Time to Die’s release have reportedly cost MGM $30-$50 million in a time when major releases are going straight to streaming, like Disney’s live action Mulan which took a respectable $36 million in its opening weekend on Disney+.
RELATED: 10 Best James Bond Video Games (According to Metacritic)
According to rumors, MGM was looking at making a deal for around $600 million which may have proved too big a gamble for streaming platforms. It’s also unlikely that producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, whose production company Eon Productions currently control the James Bond franchise, would sign off on such a deal.
Talking to Variety, a spokesman for MGM denied the claim saying “we do not comment on rumors. The film is not for sale. The film’s release has been postponed until April 2021 in order to preserve the theatrical experience for moviegoers”
It’s already been a rough year for cinemas who’ve seen takings fall drastically and big releases like Tenet perform well below expectations. But a long standing franchise like James Bond releasing straight to a streaming service could potentially have even longer lasting repercussions for the industry. Time will tell whether or not MGM made the right decision here.
No Time to Die is slated to release in April 2021
MORE: Daniel Craig Has Some Advice for the Next James Bond
Source: Variety
