‘No Time To Die’ & ‘Dune’ Get October China Release Dates

6 Minutes Read

• After months with few significant new Hollywood releases, both “Dune” and “No Time to Die“ finalized their China opening dates, officially confirming their outing in the world’s largest film market at a time when other major studio titles have been given the cold shoulder.

• The two films will hit in successive October weekends. “Dune” will land on Oct. 22, “No Time to Die” will roar in a week after on Oct. 29. The former passed Chinese censorship with significant time to spare back in July, and the latter more recently on Sept. 10.

Photograph: courtesy Universal (No Time to Die)

 Happy development for Hollywood and fans 

Deadline has confirmed that Legendary/Warner Bros.’ Dune will be opening day-and-date with the U.S. in China on Oct. 22 while Daniel Craig’s swan song as James Bond, No Time to Die, will open on Oct. 29.

It is certainly a happy development for Hollywood, given that big-budgeted “Dune” and “No Time to Die” will need strong global sales to turn a profit.

It’s also very welcome news to fans who have been waiting on tenterhooks to know for certain that they’ll really be able to watch two of the most locally anticipated films of the year in theaters. They’ve had reason to worry: some of the biggest Hollywood titles have unexpectedly failed to set release dates so far this summer, including “Black Widow” and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” among others.

Though Chinese viewers will have access to “Dune” at the same time as those in the U.S., piracy will likely remain a significant issue for the title in the China given that it debuted this week in parts of Europe and Asia.

Photograph: courtesy Warner Bros. (Dune)

 First big Hollywood movies since Free Guy 

Legendary East is handling the release of Dune in the PRC. Given Legendary’s ownership by Wanda, Dune will be blasted everywhere in the country, and seen in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities as well.

No Time to Die is being distributed by Universal overseas. Both are vital markets in boosting both event pics’ global grosses; China being an important market for 007, one which Eon/Universal/MGM intentionally waited to rebound in the throes of the pandemic.

Both features are confirmed by Maoyan as upcoming releases. Dune and No Time to Die are the only two Hollywood movies which we knew had recently been granted certificates and we were waiting on release dates. The last Bond film, Spectre, did $83.5M in the PRC while Skyfall grossed $59M. In regards to Dune director Denis Villeneuve fare in the Middle Kingdom, Arrival grossed $16M while Blade Runner 2049 made $11.7M, however, this sci-fi spectacle should feasibly play with Chinese crowds.

Both of these movies come after the October 1 Chinese National Day holiday which will see local pics, so these will be the first big Hollywood movies since Free Guy. Meanwhile, it looks like Disney/Marvel features Black Widow and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings won’t be getting Chinese release dates.

Source: Deadline

https://deadline.com/2021/09/no-time-to-die-dune-china-release-dates-1234839287/

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