With a director now set in stone, Eon and MGM have set distribution plans for Bond 25. Universal Pictures has won the international distribution rights as well as the rights for home entertainment.

Domestic distribution will be handled by MGM and Annapurna through the joint venture they signed last year. The 25th installment of the James Bond franchise will be released in the UK on October 25, 2019, and in the U.S. on November 8, 2019. Production begins December 3.

MGM will be front and center as distributor on a Bond film for the first time in nearly two decades. Sony distributed the previous four Craig/Bond films, starting with Casino Royale in 2006. Sony’s deal ended with Spectre in 2015. Warner Bros and Paramount tried to go after the rights, and Sony attempted to renew their deal, but Universal came out on top.

Daniel Craig is set to return for his fifth film as Agent 007. Danny Boyle is set to direct with a script by his Trainspotting partner John Hodge, based on an idea by Boyle. MGM and Danjaq weighed several directors. Boyle said he would direct only if his concept was the one they went with. MGM agreed, and the rest is history.

On Bond 25, Wilson and Broccoli said, “We are delighted to announce that the exceptionally talented Danny Boyle will be directing Daniel Craig in his fifth outing as James Bond in the 25th installment of the franchise. We will begin shooting Bond 25 at Pinewood Studios in December with our partners at MGM and thrilled that Universal will be our international distributor.”

It’s currently unknown if Daniel Craig plans on starring in any more Bond films after 25, so it’s possible that this could be Craig’s last.

Bond 25 hits theaters on November 8, 2019.

Source: Variety