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No Time to Die: Everything you need to know

From Digital Spy

No Time to Die was the first major movie to be delayed due to the ongoing global situation which seemed like a surprise at the time, but is now seen as a smart move.

It means that even though we've had to wait longer for Daniel Craig's final outing as James Bond, we are still getting it this year, unlike other movies which have had to move to 2021 or the dreaded TBD release date.

Will Craig end his 007 era on a high after the disappointment of Spectre? Did the change of director from Danny Boyle to Cary Joji Fukunaga pay off? Will Bond survive the day?

We won't know the answers to these questions until we actually see No Time to Die, but for now, here's everything you need to know about the 25th James Bond movie.

No Time to Die release date: When is No Time to Die out?

Originally set for an April 2 release date in the UK (after a series of other delays), No Time to Die was postponed in early March to November 12 in the UK and November 20 in the US.

Photo credit: MGM
Photo credit: MGM

Despite the lengthy delay, Fukunaga has confirmed that he hasn't tinkered with the movie as it was completed before the delay, later explaining: "I had mentally finished the film. Mentally and emotionally."

The movie officially went into production on April 28, 2019 and wrapped on October 26, 2019, and has featured a dramatic chase sequence across the ice, a bloodied James Bond and a couple of unfortunate injuries.

Even though No Time to Die was delayed, we have already had the theme song from Billie Eilish, marking the youngest artist ever to record a Bond song at the age of 18.

We've also had numerous new looks at the movie in various stills, featuring Bond in danger, M and Bond in discussion and Q looking worried.

No Time to Die trailer: Watch the No Time to Die trailer here!

The first trailer landed on Wednesday, December 4 and revealed the return of Christoph Waltz as Blofeld.

Other than that, it's a very Bondian first trailer, with villainous speeches, one-liners and huge action sequences. But is that Rami Malek's Safin behind the white mask or is it someone else?

And should we be worried about whether Q will make it out of the movie alive?

No Time to Die cast: Who's in No Time to Die?

Daniel Craig, of course, will be back as James Bond for his final mission and he wasn't always sure about coming back, but he came back for a particular reason.

"I always had a kind of secret idea about the whole lot in my head, and where I wanted to take it. And Spectre wasn't that. But [No Time to Die] feels like it is," he noted.

Photo credit: MGM/Nicole Dove
Photo credit: MGM/Nicole Dove

Craig has also been reflecting on his "emotional" final day of filming as 007: "The whole crew came round and gathered outside. Everybody was hugging each other. I tried to make a speech and couldn't get it out."

And no, the producers haven't started looking for his replacement yet, even though Craig has confirmed he's "done" with the role.

Joining Craig in returning to the franchise are Ralph Fiennes as M, Ben Whishaw as Q, Rory Kinnear as Tanner, Naomie Harris as Moneypenny, Jeffrey Wright as Felix Leiter and, as rumoured, Léa Seydoux as Dr Madeleine Swann.

As confirmed by the first trailer, the reports of Christoph Waltz returning as Blofeld (reprising his Spectre role) were proven to be true.

Photo credit: MGM
Photo credit: MGM

"We're trying to honour the legacy of the story, and what Blofeld's meant for the Bond character for so long," Fukunaga explained about Blofeld's return.

"In Spectre, they establish different roots to their relationship. So this film, I think in many ways, tries to continue that adversarial relationship. But obviously, with the obstruction that Blofeld's in prison."

He won't be the only villain around though as there's also Safin, played by Rami Malek, who is a "nasty piece of work".

Photo credit: MGM/Nicole Dove
Photo credit: MGM/Nicole Dove

Talking about his role, Malek revealed that he was influenced in a certain way by Freddie Mercury. "If I went in there and tried to make a carbon copy of someone, what joy or fun would that be for anybody?," he said.

"I guess that may be a lesson I learned from Mr Mercury. If it's not original, then why bother?"

There has been a lot of speculation from Bond fans that Safin is actually the revamped Dr No, in the same way that Spectre brought back Blofeld. It's a rumour that Malek isn't exactly shutting down...

Malek won't be the only newcomer, though, as he'll be joined by Lashana Lynch as Nomi (who may, or may not, become 007), Ana De Armas as Paloma and David Dencik as Waldo, alongside Dali Benssalah and Billy Magnussen in undisclosed roles.

Photo credit: MGM
Photo credit: MGM

Dave Bautista isn't ruling out a return for his Spectre villain Mr Hinx – who was dragged from a train but never shown dead – either. (Although he's nowhere to be seen in the first trailer.)

"There was talk. I admit it, my hopes were really high. Not so much anymore. I realise that they're well into Bond 25 – maybe into pre-production at this point – but I haven't had any inclination that they plan on using me," he told Digital Spy.

Behind the scenes, the movie has been written by long-time 007 duo Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, The Bourne Ultimatum's Scott Z Burns and Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

Speaking of which, the Fleabag writer teased what we can expect from the movie with her input, admitting she wants the female characters to "feel like real people" while seeing what she "can sneak in" in terms of feminist humour.

She also dismissed arguments that the franchise is dated because of how Bond treats women, describing them as "bollocks".

Photo credit: Jerod Harris - Getty Images
Photo credit: Jerod Harris - Getty Images

Dan Romer was originally set to score the movie, but was replaced in early January by Hans Zimmer due to "creative differences". Along with The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, Zimmer's score will bring back a classic Bond tradition: guitars.

And that's not the only favourite returning as a new image confirmed that the Aston Martin V8 Vantage from The Living Daylights is back too.

No Time to Die plot: What's No Time to Die about?

With the official cast announcement came our first synopsis for the movie and here it is for your eyes only: "Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help.

"The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology."

And if you're wondering how long Bond has been out of the spy game, it's five whole years.

The first trailer didn't give too much more away, except that Madeleine Swann has a "secret" that could prove deadly for Bond, and is potentially linked to Safin's villainous plan.

Photo credit: Nicole Dove - Universal
Photo credit: Nicole Dove - Universal

It seems like Bond's past will come back to haunt him in more ways than one too as Whishaw has confirmed that the movie has "strands" from all of Craig's previous Bond outings.

We also know that the new movie will "really shock people", according to Naomie Harris, who also revealed that we can expect to see "four strong, intelligent women who are responsible for driving the plot forward".

And Seydoux has teased that fans are going to cry: "There's a lot of emotion in this Bond. It's very moving."

Aside from that, No Time to Die really is being kept under lock and key, but producer Barbara Broccoli has promised that it's an "emotionally satisfying conclusion" to the entire Daniel Craig era.

No Time to Die will be released in the UK on November 12 and in the US on November 20.

All the previous Bond movies are available on DVD, Blu-ray, and to watch online.



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