Daniel Craig’s new James Bond film No Time to Die may have been pushed back from early April to late November, but that doesn’t stop Craig from hosting Saturday Night Live, with a new promo starting Thursday.
Craig was announced to host SNL in early February, when his new movie 007 No Time To Die was originally scheduled to be released on April 8.
As the film hits theaters on November 12 due to the global coronavirus epidemic, it is still on board to host SNL on Saturday March 7.
Promo: Daniel Craig’s new James Bond film No Time to Die may have been postponed from early April to late November, but that doesn’t stop Craig from hosting Saturday Night Live, with a new promo to start Thursday
The promo stars Craig flanked by musical guest The Weeknd and SNL actress Cecily Strong.
Craig begins by saying, “Hi, I’m Daniel Craig and I’m organizing SNL with The Weeknd,” before Strong suggests otherwise.
“No, Leap like Strong, Cecily Strong”, and he obliges, declaring: “My name is Craig, Daniel Craig.
Postponed: fans will have to wait until November for the 25th James Bond film
Musical guest: The promo presents Craig accompanied by musical guest The Weeknd and SNL actress Cecily Strong
007: ‘No, Leap like Strong, Cecily Strong’, and he obliges, saying, ‘My name is Craig, Daniel Craig.’
Strong then turns to The Weeknd, saying, “You are leaving”, and he obliges, declaring: “My name is Weeknd, The Weeknd”.
Strong shrugged and said, “Less fun, I guess,” at the end of the ad.
Craig hosts Saturday Night Live for the second time, after his debut in October 2012, just before the release of his blockbuster film Bond Skyfall.
Name of the link: Strong then turns to The Weeknd, saying: “ Go ahead ”, and he obliges by declaring: “ My name is Weeknd, The Weeknd ”
No Time to Die will be Craig’s fifth lap in 007, his race starting with his franchise debut at the Casino Royale in 2006.
He followed that up with Quantum of Solace from 2008, followed by the global blockbuster Skyfall, the first film and 007 to gross more than a billion dollars worldwide.
Craig returned in 2015 to Specter, and after a long hiatus – where he decided whether or not to return as James Bond, he signed with No Time to Die.
Franchise Bond: No Time to Die will be Craig’s fifth round in 007, with his race starting with his franchise debut at the Casino Royale in 2006
Blockbuster: he followed that with Quantum of Solace from 2008, followed by the global blockbuster Skyfall, the first and the 007 film to bring in more than a billion dollars in the world
Craig recently starred in the mystery of director Rian Johnson’s murder, Knives Out, and there are rumors that he will return as Detective Benoit Blanc for a sequel.
He is also attached to the star of The Creed of Violence for director Todd Field and he is attached to the star of the television series Purity.
Craig’s episode of Saturday Night Live will air from coast to coast on Saturday March 6 at 11:30 p.m. on NBC.
The Hollywood Reporter said on Thursday that MGM, the studio behind the Bond movies, could lose more than $ 30 million due to the delay.
“Marketing spending was already significant with just four weeks to go, including a $ 4.5 million Super Bowl spot that took place in February,” reported THR.com.
Rumor: Craig recently starred in the mystery of director Rian Johnson’s murder, Knives Out, and was reportedly fired as detective Benoit Blanc for a sequel
By moving the release of the film from April to November, MGM hopes to preserve the huge box office draw that the release of the 25th Bond is likely to win.
Bond films make a significant part of their profits on international markets.
The latest film, Specter, generated more than $ 679 million in overseas cinemas in 2015, including more than $ 84 million from China.
In a statement, bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said the decision was made “after careful consideration and a thorough assessment of the world theater market”.
The closure of more than 70,000 Chinese cinemas in recent weeks has devastated the world’s second largest cinema market.
Publishing No Time To Die as planned could have reduced “a potential $ 300 million dollars out of a billion dollars likely at the world box office,” said the Hollywood Reporter.
Claim: The Hollywood Reporter said on Thursday that MGM, the studio behind the Bond movies, could lose more than $ 30 million by delaying the release of No Time To Die in November
Advertising tours in China, Japan and South Korea for the last release of Daniel Craig, 007 having already been abandoned before the decision to delay.
And earlier this week, influential MI6-HQ fan website published an open letter that said it was time for MGM and Universal to “ put public health above marketing schedules and the cost of ‘cancellation of advertising events’.
Questions were also asked about the world premiere No Time To Die scheduled for March 31 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, which can accommodate over 5,000 people.
The global coronavirus epidemic is expected to cost the film industry $ 5 billion, according to The Hollywood Reporter this week.
The release and production schedule for Hollywood films has already been affected by the COVID-19 epidemic.
Last week, Paramount Pictures halted production of the seventh Mission: Impossible film, which was to be shot in Venice, Italy.
Paramount also postponed the Chinese release of Sonic the Hedgehog while Disney postponed the Chinese premiere of its remake live from Mulan.
The coronavirus epidemic started in China and has spread worldwide. As of Thursday evening, more than 98,000 people have contracted the virus worldwide, killing more than 3,300 people.
New episode: Craig’s episode of Saturday Night Live will air from coast to coast on Saturday March 6 at 11:30 p.m. on NBC