Now is "not the right time" to release No Time to Die, says the film's star, Daniel Craig.
The actor spoke out in a new interview with Jimmy Fallon, coming days after the Bond franchise postponed Craig's final outing as "007" to April 2021. Initially slated for an April 2020 release, No Time to Die was first pushed to November 2020 and now Spring 2021. But the delay must be put in perspective, Craig told Fallon.
Daniel Craig addresses No Time to Die release date delay
The exhibition industry and a percentage of the Bond fanbase voiced outrage at the film's latest delay. But Craig endorses the pause on the blockbuster's release at this unstable moment.
"This thing is just bigger than all of us. We just want people to go and see this movie in the right way, in a safe way," he said. "Cinemas all around the world are closed at the moment. We want to release the movie at the same time all around the world and this isn't the right time.
"So fingers crossed, 2 April is going to be our day," Craig added. The franchise itself echoed this sentiment upon breaking the news of the delay. On Oct. 2, the official James Bond Twitter page said the postponement came so the film could "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," they wrote.
No Time to Die night on Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show
Despite the film's delay, it was No Time to Die night on Monday's episode of The Tonight Show. Craig also introduced a new clip from the film and chatted about Bond themes with Fallon, while Billie Eilish and FINNEAS performed the theme for the upcoming movie.
No Time to Die is now set for an April 2, 2021 release. The film's 2020 postponement also preceded a series of other blockbuster premiere shifts for F9, The Batman, and most recently, Dune.