I am in the midst of writing follow-ups to a book I had published end last year, Cote d’Azur which, instead of me prattling on about flora and fauna, has me talking to and interviewing many people from the Productions.
One of whom has alluded to the ‘fact’ a decision will be made on the 1st September.
While I fully admit news such as this should be taken with grains of salt, please forgive me if, in the fullness of time, this turns out to be incorrect.
It makes sense, exactly a month before release…it was around that same timeframe the first delay was announced
That regulatory approval is a complicated matter where a longtime aberration, Amazon’s predominant market position in some sectors, is targeted by the government in a case where Amazon demonstrably doesn’t hold a dominant position. Tricky.
If they sue - which I think they will try to avoid - Amazon can confidently point to previous cases and established law practice. All that would surely take a while and likely not produce the desired result anyway (which is why the scrutiny now may prolong the process but is not likely to prevent it altogether).
Amazon needs by far not be as worried about NO TIME TO DIE’s profits as MGM. So there’s a good chance they could shell out for a Bond film that would undoubtedly be a big advertisement and underline their claim on the property. Also, it would prevent NO TIME TO DIE being in the headlines as a disappointment - or worse, disaster.
Buying MGM is a longtime investment anyway, a few hundred million more won’t make a huge difference in a timeframe of 20 or 30 years.
This seems like the most logical place for this to be posted:
Apologies if this was already posted and I missed it. Just saw it’s from last week.
Something worth noting from the article:
So No Time To Die would now need to make at least $928 million worldwide to not lose money, something no movie has achieved since the pandemic began.
So, in other words, it needs to become the second most grossing Bond film of all time in order to avoid losing money. A tall task in the best of times. An impossibility in the new world.
I realize that this break-even number is higher due to the multiple pandemic-related delays, but seriously, they need to consider reigning in the budgets on these films. It shouldn’t be that a film has to make the GDP of a small island nation in order to break even. That’s ridiculous.
And, I think we can take this as a sign that it’s going to be delayed again. I doubt there’s a chance that it’s released at this point until they’re officially under the Amazon umbrella, where they could avoid such a dire financial hit.
But wait: the Express quotes a fansite´s musing as its only source!
Sure, those guys do make some valid points. But it is speculation based on rumors.
Way to go, Express. That’s some quality journalism right there.
Silly me, thinking old school-like to actually talk with EON and MGM to get those figures right before publishing…
Of course, a broken clock and a fansite can be right once in a while.
They were aiming for Skyfall level numbers, which was a ludicrous aim in the best of circumstances as so many factors were at play for Slyfall to reach that. It’s like winning the lottery twice, technically possible but VERY unlikely and definitely not something you should be basing your business plan on.
…it’s long, but very relevant
It’s not even journalism.
I should have read the entire article. Just skimmed and saw that passage. Can’t assume that anything is reputable journalism, or even journalism at all, these days.
Still, doesn’t change my belief that this film is being delayed until after the MGM/Amazon sale becomes official.
In a soberingly sensible way that decision would be the soundest financially.
Depending on a view that in 2022 or 2023 the world will be a place again where people just want to flock to the cinemas again in record numbers.
Even for a Bond film.
It’s the only decision that I can see that they have on the table, outside of the possibility of Amazon brokering a pre-sale deal with them for streaming rights on Amazon Prime to try to help offset the massive loss they would incur releasing the film into this atmosphere.
Oh, and it’s a personal favorite of mine 
Those two go hand in hand when it comes to that.
When exactly is the Amazon/MGM deal likely to be finalised?
Difficult to judge. The administration wants to address certain developments around big tech that have been neglected for many years. There’s a possibility for a broader consensus across the divide - but nobody can seriously say if it comes to that since one half of the political spectrum has left all responsibility behind in favour of becoming a cult without any relation to sense or reason.
Anyway, it’s not going to be a question of what politics wants but what the courts may decide if it comes to that. And here the established law practice is not going to support just any political targeting. So the sensible way would be to broker a deal before it comes to a court ruling.
Not anytime soon.
With the prospects of looming political and judicial fights over it, nobody really knows for certain. Well, the only thing that we probably do know for certain is that it won’t happen in time for the current release date of No Time to Die.
https://thesincuragroup.com/tickets/film/premiers.html
Scroll down a bit, and you’ll see that the premiere will apparently take place at the Royal Albert Hall on September 28th.
That sites looks to be based more on hope than actual knowledge…
However, the Monaco Premiere seems to be confident.
If the film is delayed until after the MGM/Amazon deal is finalized, which is likely as I doubt it will be releasing in October, I could see it debuting on Amazon Prime close to or simultaneously with a theatrical release.
Hmm. Not advertised on 007.com, old poster campaign, tickets on sale for public??
Is someone being hopeful?
Those concierge agencies (which is what this is, they always have a handful of tickets for premieres and afterparies available to buy for thousands) often have the ‘scoop’…or at least claim to. Tuesday ahead of the UK release makes sense. Def to be taken with a grain of salt for now but at least some movement if these agencies are getting some info on this happening (they haven’t had anything since the cancelled March 2020 event)
@theSpectre if EON’s statement at the time of the MGM sale being announced is to go by, they will fight tooth and nail against a release that doesn’t have an exclusive theatrical element.