The mission should I choose to accept it: After a year-and-a-half wait, due to the pandemic, to be among an exclusive invite cohort to take in the new James Bond film “No Time To Die” premiere in grand style at an exclusive, invite-only, black-tie, red-carpet event with classic 007 attributes and Heineken in conjunction with Belvedere.
I accepted the opportunity to see Daniel Craig in his swan song performance as the legendary secret agent during the worldwide release, courtesy of Heineken and Commonwealth Brewery Limited (CBL) at Fusion Superplex, on a ticket that was good from 6 p.m. Thursday, October 7 and self-destructed at 11 p.m. that night.
The Heineken and CBL team wished me and everyone lucky to score one of the 140 exclusive invites, good luck and reminded everyone to socialize responsibly as ice-cold Heineken and Belvedere martinis – shaken, not stirred – free-flowed for the duration of the five-hour event. Belvedere is the official spirit for the film.
The evening was definitely “sexy”. And the glitz was in full effect as guests were excited for the opportunity to get dressed to the nines for the event which kicked off with a cocktail hour that allowed them to indulge in a menu that showcased shrimp kebabs, chili spiced chicken kebabs, filet mignon skewers, fish cakes, sushi rolls (avocado mango roll, and California roll) and fruit coconut, which were washed down, of course, with their perfectly chilled beverage of choice – Heineken and Heineken 0.0, or a Belvedere libation.
Guests had to traverse a 007 agent protected red carpet shrouded in fog to get to their assigned theater, but just as they were to venture to their destination, a fight broke out, that no one tried to get in the middle of, and ended with a damsel in distress being carried away by her hero. The fight was all a part of the evening’s entertainment.
“As you know, Bond is an exceptionally skillful martial artist, and throughout the years he’s gotten himself into many brutal scrapes, but he also has a weakness for women, so we wanted to pay homage to Bond, and simultaneously surprise our guests with a wow moment,” said Michaela Munnings, Heineken brand manager.
The commissioned Swann Talent Productions to create the theatrical piece where Bond saves the day (well in this case, night) and a damsel in distress all before disappearing into a cloud of smoke which allowed guests to transition seamlessly from the cocktail reception to their assigned theater – Pure VIP 1 or 2 (which features plush reclining leather seats, full butler service), IMAX VIP or IMAX for the movie premiere.
During the movie, guests dined on a three-course meal of either spiced pumpkin bisque or lobster bisque, a duo of salmon and chicken with whipped potatoes and asparagus, and a chef-inspired dessert which turned out to be a slice of sponge cake with a scoop of ice cream, all while sipping on Heineken or Heineken 0.0 or a Belvedere martini – or both. The libations were definitely free-flowing!
Vaccinated or not, every guest was required to show proof of a negative COVID test taken within two days of the event, and had to submit to temperature checks. Social distancing was definitely in place as the 140-odd guest list was spread across three theaters for Craig’s fifth and final film.
The premiere event was a part of simultaneous premieres in 57 cities across the globe.
“No Time to Die” is the 25th James Bond adventure which has finally hit screens a year-and-a-half after its originally scheduled April 2020 release date.
“As the saying goes, the best things in life are worth waiting for,” said Munnings, prior to the screening. She said just as the film was long awaited, so was Heineken’s return to the premium events scene in The Bahamas.
CBL hosted the movie premiere in grand style with an exclusive, invite-only, black-tie, red-carpet event with classic 007 attributes and Heineken in conjunction with Belvedere.
“The past two years have been turbulent and a stressful time for many but I believe that this opportunity to dress up and socialize responsibly in a safe environment.”
The premiere of “No Time To Die” was Heineken and CBL’s third world premiere of a 007 franchise movie, after SkyFall (2012) and SPECTRE (2015).
Each time the brand has hosted a Bond premiere, Munnings said they were intentional about taking it up a notch. This film premiere was the first event that they are executing during a pandemic.
“It’s been 24 years and counting, and each time Heineken has the opportunity to partner with a new Bond film, the brand’s connection with 007 grows stronger,” said Munnings. “We also view the partnership as a great way to leverage our consumer and customer relationships through branded giveaways, cool social media adverts and limited-edition products, simultaneously reminding them of one simple message: when Bond chooses beer, it’s Heineken!”
Heineken also released a commercial collaboration with Daniel Craig to celebrate the release of the “No Time to Die” called “Worth the Wait”, which shows Craig waiting patiently for a pint of Heineken beer. The commercial is a tribute to fans worldwide who have waited for the release of “No Time to Die”. It continues a commercial relationship between Heineken and James Bond that stretches back to 1997, when “Tomorrow Never Dies” was released starring Pierce Brosnan as the suave secret agent.
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