James Bond Coronavirus: BAFTA boss backs ‘courageous’ No Time to Die delay

No Time to Die was supposed to be released in the UK on April 2. However, due to coronavirus fears, the film has now been delayed to November. BAFTA boss Dame Pippa Harris, in an exclusive chat with Express.co.uk, has praised the ‘courageous’ decision from the producers.

Dame Pippa spoke ahead of the home release of her new film, 1917, which she produced as part of her company Neal Street Production, alongside Sir Sam Mendes.

Given her connection to the previous Bond director, Dame Pippa weighed in on the decision to move the new 007 movie to November.

She said: “You have to take these things into consideration because it’s not just a financial decision.

“I’m sure the decision to move Bond was largely to do with the safety of the audience because a big film like that, which is such popular release where the cinemas will be packed out across the world when there’s a virus going round, is potentially a dangerous thing to be doing.

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“I think they were very courageous actually to, quite early on, call it out and say, ‘No, we’re going to postpone and move it right down to the end of the year,’ because I’m sure it was a complex thing for them to do.

“It wasn’t just a question, I’m sure in the case of Bond, of pulling it out of the various cinemas. There would have been other activities around that release which they’ve now had to cancel or reschedule.”

Other than Bond, Dame Pippa spoke out about other films which will, she fears, sadly be impacted by the coronavirus and the cinema releases.

Shesaid: “I went to an early screening of Misbehaviour, which is a fantastic British film about the Miss World contest… it’s a great movie and the kind of movie which deserves to be seen by a big audience.

The SXSW Film Festival was cancelled, while A Quiet Place Part II has been delayed indefinitely.

The director, John Krasinski, said on Twitter: “One of the things I’m most proud of is that people have said our movie is one you have to see all together.

“Well due to the ever-changing circumstances of what’s going on in the world around us, now is clearly not the right time to do that.

“As insanely excited as we are for all of you to see this movie … I’m gonna wait to release the film till we CAN see it all together! So here’s to our group movie date! See you soon!”

Fast and Furious 9, which was trailed at the Superbowl, has also been delayed for 11 months, and will be released on April 2, 2021.