BY LEE PFEIFFER
Mike Fleming of the Deadline website adds some context to a recent report from Bloomberg News that the next James Bond film, "No Time to Die", might "premiere" on a major streaming service. Deadline says that although some discussions and consideration were given to this option, Bond producers have decided to hold out for a theatrical premiere in April, 2021. The report goes into the financial stakes that effect the film and the franchise in general. If recent history is any indication, "No Time to Die" could gross over a billion dollars from international theatrical exhibition. The movie was originally slated to premiere in London last March but considerations of the virus led producers to announce it would be delayed until this November. With the world still reeling from the effects of the virus, Eon Productions announced that April, 2021 would be the new target date. However, much will depend on world conditions at that time. As experts predicted, the world is still grappling with the virus and a new surge is expected to get only worse with the arrival of colder weather. While great progress is being made in the development of vaccines, the earliest one might be approved seems to be late this year. By the time it could begin to be administered to general populations worldwide, experts cite next spring or summer as the most likely timetable. This calls into question whether the marketplace would be any more favorable to release a major movie. "No Time to Die" is said to have cost about $250 million. The producers have acknowledged they want to premiere the film in theaters. However, the only thing anyone knows for sure regarding the effect of the virus is that no one knows anything for sure. For more click here.