No Time For COVID!

It seems even Bond couldn’t escape COVID. No Time To Die was originally intended to hit cinemas in April 2020 - the London premiere was cancelled (along with everything else) when cases began to overtake the UK. Thankfully, after months of delays, the latest Bond installation is just around the corner, with a new release date confirmed for October 8, 2021. Good news for Bond’s birthplace - the UK will be able to get a first look at the latest adventure on September 30!

Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, with a script co-written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, it’s Daniel Craig’s fifth and final tour of duty as the iconic spy. It promises to be quite the swan-song, with Craig noting, "I just want to go out on a high note, and I can't wait.” He is still oozing enough style to leave the audience breathless and anticipation is at fever pitch! With fans starved of their hero for so long, there has been much speculation, multiple trailers, clips, hints and interviews.

Producer Barbara Broccoli has revealed that No Time To Die is “a culmination of everything that his [Bond] portrayal of the character has been through, and it ties up all the storylines. It’s a pretty epic film, I have to say.” There’s plenty to talk about – so let’s jump right into it!

In the beginning, there was… Jamaica!

The opening of the film seems to find a rather chilled James enjoying some much-deserved R’R in Jamaica with Ms. Swann, the French psychologist and daughter of mysterious SPECTRE member, Mr. White. Bond seems to have found some Zen in retirement, blissfully in love, living a tranquil life. Unfortunately, events don’t bode well for Bond, who just can’t seem to catch a break, poor guy! The peace is shattered when Felix Leiter, an old friend from the CIA, arrives asking for help…

Valdo Obruchev, a scientist of some kind, seems to have disappeared and only our beloved 007 is equipped to sort it all out! Of course, Valdo didn’t get lost walking his dog in the park – he has been abducted, and Bond must confront a scheming villain whose evil machinations could result in the death of millions. The plot involves some sort of new and mysterious technology that, rumour has it, involves genetic warfare. If this is all sounding frighteningly familiar, we hear you! Here’s hoping it’s not the next variant of the Corona Virus!

Betrayal, an evil Rami Malek and a new 007!

No Time To Die will carry on directly from Spectre with heavy themes of betrayal thrown into the mix! The trailer presents Bond addressing Madeline Swann with the delectable line ‘We all have our secrets… we just didn’t get to yours yet!’ Ooooh … interesting!

There is a new villain to look forward to (cue maniacal laughter) in the form of ‘Safin’, played by the delightfully talented Rami Malek – who seems to really be relishing the role of the bad guy. “I promise you all I will be making sure Mr Bond does not have an easy ride of it in this, his 25th outing”, Malek quips. We can’t wait… there also seems to be a Blofeld return! Other familiar faces include Ralph Fiennes (M), Ben Whishaw (Q), Naomie Harris (Moneypenny), Rory Kinnear (Tanner) and Jeffrey Wright (Felix Leiter).

Hang on! A new 007?

There is also a 007 that’s not Bond - fresh out of whatever dark vault MI6 seems to keep their agents! When it was announced that there would be a new 007, rumours swirled that Daniel Craig’s replacement was, in fact, a woman. That wasn’t entirely true – the woman in question will NOT be playing the new Bond. Instead, she took over his secret agent number (007) after he left MI6 at the end of Spectre.

Nomi, played by British actress Lashana Lynch, is the new ‘007’– a formidable spy, well-versed in witty retorts, who whole-heartedly takes on the role. One of the most important characters in No Time To Die, she also embraces many of the 007 tropes, driving a black Aston Martin, and is totally in her element as a smooth operator at glitzy events. From the few snippets we’ve seen, she keeps up nicely with Bond!

What about the song? Enter Billie Eilish!

“Fool me once, fool me twice. Are you death or paradise?” … so croons Billie Eilish in the theme song for No Time To Die. The lyrics tantalisingly imply more deceit and betrayal for poor James in a very dramatic ballad! At 18, Eilish is the youngest singer to record a song for the franchise.  "Now you'll never see me cry," she concludes. "There's just no time to die." The spine-tingling words seem to confirm the theory that Daniel Craig's final tour as Bond will see him double-crossed by Madeleine Swann.

BOND voyage Daniel!

As the curtain draws to a close on Daniel Craig’s legacy as Bond, here’s hoping all questions are answered and he leaves us with some form of closure on the emotional character arc that began with 2006’s Casino Royal.

If you are a Bond super-fan, and let’s face it, if you’ve read this far you are, you need the awesome, James Bond Official Coin Collection in your life. Indulge in some nostalgia with a subscription collection of 25 pure silver coins struck by the Perth Mint, honouring all the iconic Bond films. Each coin comes with its own Certificate of Authenticity, featuring the original official poster artwork. A sweeping piece of cinematic history, all the blockbusters are included – From Russia With Love all the way to the Daniel Craig’s last, No Time To Die.

One thing’s for sure – whoever comes next as 007 has some pretty spectacular shoes to fill!