Even James Bond isn’t immune from a pandemic
Agent 007, nor his many fans, are immune from a pandemic.
In the first three days of this month, a number of James Bond fans were skeptical that No Time to Die’s release date needed to be pushed back.
That seems like an eternity ago. Since then, theaters in Italy and France were closed. Weeks before that, theaters in China had been closed.
Some Bond sites said the coronavirus was serious and the No Time to Die release pans needed to be considered.
The studios involved, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (U.S. via its United Artists Releasing joint venture with Annapurna) and Univeral (international) opted to push No Time to Die back to November.
Other Bond sites opposed the move, one saying that it ruined “Bond fun.” Some may have deleted previous criticism of the idea of delaying No Time to Die’s release.
Since then, several movies also delayed their release dates. In the U.S., sports leagues and events have been canceled or postponed without replacement dates.
At least some of those who objected to the No Time to Die delay haven’t acknowledged those subsequent facts. That’s how it goes.
In the past 10 days, the No Time to Die delay has become part of a much larger calamity. Movies delayed. Trade shows canceled. Broadways shut down. Concern grows whether more severe steps need to be taken.
As the blog has said before, it’s time to get real. Pandemics don’t happen that often. But we’re in one now.
UPDATE (9 p.m., New York time): Olga Kurylenko, who played the lead female part in 2008’s Quantum of Solace, said in an Instagram post that she has tested positive for coronavirus.
UPDATE (11:25 p.m., New York time): Movie theaters in New York and Los Angeles have been ordered to close because of the pandemic, The Hollywood Reporter said.
Filed under: James Bond Films | Tagged: Bond 25, coronavirus, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, No Time to Die |
The Spy Command 
Curious we’re born of an era where the collective response to a “declared” emergency isn’t one of willful sacrifice but skeptical analysis. Princess Cruise passengers interviewed, who could’ve been most angry, didn’t seem to be however. Was it due to their generation”s memory of history? Another (fantasy) franchise once quoted “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” (STII:Wrath of Khan). A deeper argument of that statement may be read at this link: https://www.theobjectivestandard.com/2013/09/spocks-illogic-the-needs-of-the-many-outweigh-the-needs-of-the-few/ (Warning) it’s not an easy read.
I much prefer the Spy Commander’s summary instead! “Get Real.”