“Bond 25” Officially Has A Title
The latest development in the Bond 25 saga, unfortunately, doesn’t involve anything as exciting as toilet cams, explosions, broken bones, Grace Jones’ spittle or Rami Malek being a weirdo. In fact, it’s kind of a snoozefest of a development. The official title (and release date) has been announced and it’s not Shatterhand as had been previously reported. Bond 25 will be titled No Time To Die, which harkens back to some of the classic titles of yore like Live and Let Die, Die Another Day, Tomorrow Never Dies, Die Like Your Life Depends on It, Die Becomes Her, and Don’t Die, Dry Your Eye (that’s the one where Slick Rick sang the theme song).
Here’s the official announcement.
Daniel Craig returns as James Bond, 007 in… NO TIME TO DIE. Out in the UK on 3 April 2020 and 8 April 2020 in the US. #Bond25 #NoTimeToDie pic.twitter.com/qxYEnMhk2s
— James Bond (@007) August 20, 2019
Yep, looks like a Bond movie alright. But it wouldn’t be Bond 25 without a wee hiccup. According to Express UK, Bond producers sent out a press release that suggests NTTD might not have been their first title choice. Or even their second.
Back in June, a snap leaked with the title A Reason To Die written on a piece of paper with the date 24/04/19 on it.
Fans will remember this was just one day before the Bond 25 Live Reveal when they announced the title wouldn’t be revealed yet.
Meanwhile, the source of the leak, MI6 HQ, have now pointed out that a Universal press release called Bond 25, A Day to Die.
So, was #Bond25 originally called "A Day to Die" or is this just one major typo??? pic.twitter.com/DINdF28Fo8
— Stacy Lambe (@sllambe) August 20, 2019
Bond semanticists and amateur sleuths alike have opined that A Day To Die and A Reason To Die both suggest that James Bond might not make it out of Bond 25 alive, while NTTD would indicate that Bond will face off against a giant groundhog, and live to see another 6 decades. In other words, the producers of Bond 25 might have no idea what they’re doing.
And I have one final bit of Bond scholarship for you (via Express UK):
No Time To Die is also the name of an epic 1958 war film.
Set during World War 2 and starring Victor Mature, it tells the story of a group of British and American prisoners of war who break out of a Libyan desert camp in 1942.
The film was produced by Albert Broccoli, who was involved in 17 James Bond movies right from the very first, 1962’s Dr No.
Albert “Cubby” Broccoli is of course Bond 25 (and many other Bond films) producer Barbra Broccoli’s pops. Cubby Broccoli! I just thought you should know that name if you didn’t already. Add an H and you’ve got yourself an oddly specific drag name!
"No, Mr. Bond… I expect you to die."
"Well there's no time to die."
"Then, Mr. Bond, you will… die another day.
"Which day?"
"Tomorrow."
"No, tomorrow never dies."
"Well, Mr. Bond, we'll have to agree to live and let die."
"Moonraker."
"What?"
— Mike Ryan (@mikeryan) August 20, 2019
Pic: Twitter