Not only is No Time to Die Daniel Craig’s final Bond movie but also the longest in the franchise’s 58-year history, according to reports.

The Mail on Sunday claimed that the Cary Joji Fukunaga-directed sequel, which is still being edited, is two hours and 54 minute long. A source informed the British tabloid that exhibitors have been informed of the epic runtime so that they can plan the number of daily screenings.

The same source said, “This film is so long because they were constantly adding pages to the script and filming went on way longer than was scheduled.”

The production hit a bump last year when Craig injured his ankle shortly after filming commenced in Jamaica. His injury required both surgery and a reshuffling of the shooting schedule so the actor could recuperate.

The source continued, “[Daniel] wants his final Bond to be perfect but a lot of people are going to be leaving the cinema to have a bathroom break because this one is clocking in at nearly three hours. It’s a great film, but there’s a very real fear that audiences are going to be kicking their heels at the length of this one.”

C'mon, three hours is nothing. If you survive Avengers: Endgame's 181 minutes, the three-hour duration should be a walk in the park. Also, just because the cut is three hours long doesn't mean we'll get to see all of it on screen.  

Look at JJ Abrams' Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: his director's cut is reportedly 182 minutes but what we saw eventually in the theatres is the 142 minutes (sans that fleeting same-sex kiss scene). 

So until No Time to Die is locked down, Spectre holds the record for being the longest Bond movie in the series, running at 148 minutes; Quantum of Solace is the shortest instalment, at 106 minutes.

For those keeping track, here are the runtimes for the other Bond movies:

Spectre – 148 min

Skyfall – 143 min

Quantum of Solace – 106 min

Casino Royale – 145 min

Die Another Day – 133 min

The World is Not Enough – 128 min

Tomorrow Never Dies – 119 min

GoldenEye – 130 min

Licence to Kill – 133 min

The Living Daylights –131 min

A View to a Kill – 131 min

Octopussy – 131 min

For Your Eyes Only – 128 min

Moonraker – 126 min

The Spy Who Loved Me – 126 min

The Man with the Golden Gun – 125 min

Live and Let Die – 121 min

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service – 144 min

Diamonds Are Forever – 125 min

You Only Live Twice – 117 min

Thunderball – 130 min

Goldfinger – 110 min

From Russia with Love – 118 min

Dr No – 120 min

No Time to Die opens in cinemas Apr 9.

Photo: UIP/Nicola Dove