The release of the highly-anticipated new James Bond film has been delayed for a second time, until April 2021.
No Time to Die, which will be Daniel Craig's 007 swansong, has already been moved from April to November due to the pandemic.
A statement on the official James Bond Twitter feed said: "MGM, Universal and Bond producers, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, today announced the release of NO TIME TO DIE, the 25th film in the James Bond series, will be delayed until 2 April 2021 in order to be seen by a worldwide theatrical audience.
"We understand the delay will be disappointing to our fans but we now look forward to sharing NO TIME TO DIE next year."
MGM, Universal and Bond producers, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, today announced the release of NO TIME TO DIE, the 25th film in the James Bond series, will be delayed until 2 April 2021 in order to be seen by a worldwide theatrical audience. pic.twitter.com/NqHlU24Ho3
— James Bond (@007) October 2, 2020
Director Fukunaga recently teased that Craig's final outing in the 007 role "is the culmination of all that Bond has become".
In a behind-the-scenes video released earlier this year, the filmmaker described Bond as "sort of a wounded animal" in No Time to Die.
"The world's changed," he continued. "The rules of engagement aren't what they used to be. The rules of espionage [are] darker in this era of asymmetric warfare."
Fukunaga also described Bond's new nemesis Safin (played by Malek) as "more dangerous than anyone he's ever encountered".
"The people that are close to Bond - those that he considers to be family - are at great risk."
"Everything that was left unsaid will finally be said," he concluded.
No Time to Die also stars Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux, Lashana Lynch, Ben Whishaw and Naomie Harris, with Jeffrey Wright, Christoph Waltz and Ralph Fiennes.
