EON and MGM Partner with Universal for Bond 25 Release

EON Productions and Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios (MGM) have reached an agreement with Universal Pictures to partner on the worldwide release of the 25th James Bond film. Daniel Craig will return as 007, the legendary British secret agent, and Academy Award-winning director Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, Steve Jobs) will direct from an original screenplay by Academy Award nominee John Hodge (Trainspotting).

Production on Bond 25 is set to begin at the end of the year on December 3. MGM will release the film theatrically in the U.S. on November 8, 2019 through its new joint venture for domestic theatrical distribution with Annapurna Pictures, and Universal will release internationally commencing with a traditional earlier release in the U.K. on October 25, 2019.

Under this arrangement, MGM will retain digital and worldwide television distribution rights. Universal will also handle physical home entertainment distribution.

EON Productions’ Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, commented, “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.”

“Under the leadership of Michael and Barbara, we couldn’t be more thrilled than to bring the next 007 adventure to the big screen uniting the incomparable Daniel Craig with the extraordinary vision of Danny Boyle,” said Kevin Ulrich, MGM’s Chairman of the Board of Directors

Jonathan Glickman, President, Motion Picture Group added, “It has been 16 years since Die Another Day was distributed by MGM and it’s incredibly gratifying to be releasing this film alongside the powerhouse team at Universal.”

“Universal is extremely proud to collaborate with Michael, Barbara and MGM on the international marketing and distribution of Bond 25,” said Donna Langley Chairman of Universal Pictures. “The unparalleled combination of Danny’s innovative filmmaking and Daniel’s embodiment of 007 ensured we simply had to be partners in the next chapter of this iconic series.”

The 24th James Bond film, Spectre, opened in U.S. theaters on November 16, 2015. The film earned $200 million domestically and $680.6 million internationally, for a worldwide total of $880.7 million.