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With a guest roster made up of Oscar winners and British royalty, the James Bond movie “No Time To Die” finally held its postponed world premiere in London on Tuesday in the cinema’s most great profile red carpet since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wet weather fell flat to damp the spirits as Daniel Craig, wrapped in an eye-catching pink velvet dinner jacket, and co-stars comprising Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch and Lea Seydoux reunited for the hotly foreseen movie, which cinema operators wish will help bring audiences back to pre-pandemic levels.
“No Time To Die”, the 25th Bond movie, has been postponed three times since its original April 2020 slot as movie theatres around the world were pushed to shut their doors as well as impose audience sum restrictions due to the pandemic.
The Universal Pictures and MGM film, part of one of Hollywood’s largest franchises, marks Craig’s fifth and final project as the suave British secret agent, closing a 15-year tenure that began with 2006’s “Casino Royale”.
“It’s such a great relief. It was so important to me to come and celebrate with all the other cast and crew and to get it into the cinemas and we’re here,” Craig told Reuters.
“A year ago I didn’t think that was going to happen
When he was inquired, what he was going to miss the most from playing 007, he said: “The people.”
Costing a figured $200 million to produce, “No Time To Die” watches Bond come out of retirement in Jamaica to assist in tracking down a new villain, depicted by Oscar winner Malek as “mischievous(and) devious”, and armed with lethal technology.
“The most daunting part was just coming up with a good story,” director Cary Joji Fukunaga said. “I think of it as the last chapter of this one book where we (first) met Daniel in ‘Casino Royale’ (and) it’s all part of the same story.”
The movie introduces 00 agents Nomi, depicted by Lynch, who said: “I’m just happy it’s here and we get to celebrate it in the way that it deserves.”
The premiere also saw Britain’s Prince Charles and his son Prince William and their wives. As thanks for their frontline job during the pandemic, health workers and members of the armed forces were also brought on. Former Bond actress Judi Dench and Grammy Award recipient Billie Eilish, who sings the movie’s theme tune, also attended.
Beginning its cinema debut this week, “No Time To Die” is among the most expected movies this autumn.
“I know the world is expecting this film,” said Seydoux, who returns to her “Spectre” role as Madeleine Swann. “We gave everything to this film … and I hope people will love it.”
Intentions are high after the last two Bond movies, 2015’s “Spectre” and 2012’s “Skyfall”, grossed $880 million and more than $1 billion globally. “Now that the cinemas are open we’re really happy to be supporting the industry,” producer Barbara Broccoli said. “We made this film for the cinema and we want people to enjoy it.”