Release date for new James Bond film 'No Time To Die' delayed as coronavirus spreads

The release date for the new James Bond film, No Time To Die, has been pushed back from April to November, producers have announced, as the coronavirus outbreak spreads.

While the virus was not mentioned specifically by the producers as the reason for the delay, a tweet from the official James Bond account said the decision had been made following "careful consideration and thorough evaluation of the global theatrical marketplace".

Having initially been due to out 2 April, the latest 007 instalment will now be released in the UK on 12 November.

The world premiere for No Time To Die was scheduled to take place on March 31 at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

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Following the increasingly global outbreak of coronavirus, financial markets have suffered and a number of high profile events have been cancelled.

More than £200 billion was wiped off the value of shares on the London FTSE 100 at the end of February amid fears over the outbreak.

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Elsewhere the Six Nations fixture between Ireland and Italy was postponed after Europe's largest outbreak of Covid-19 hit Italy.

Crews working on the latest Bond film spent several weeks filming a car chase in Italy for No Time To Die.

The list of countries touched by the virus has climbed to more than 60 with more than 85,000 people worldwide having contracted the illness, with deaths topping 2,800.

No Time To Die will mark Daniel Craig's fifth and final time as 007 - the film marks the 25th film in the franchise.

The film also stars Lea Seydoux, Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch and Ana De Armas.

Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, the film saw Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge drafted in to improve its script.

No Time To Die finds 007 after he has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica when his old friend Felix Leiter, played by Jeffrey Wright, from the CIA turns up asking for help.