'Bond' movie release date pushed back

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Responding to the announced delay of the next "Harry Potter" movie, Sony and MGM say they are moving back the release date of the upcoming James Bond film.

The Bond picture "Quantum of Solace" will be released a week later than planned, on Nov. 14 instead of Nov. 7, the show business newspaper Variety reported Friday.

"We believe Nov. 14 is a great date that allows us to play straight through Thanksgiving and right into Christmas," Jeff Blake, Sony chairman of worldwide marketing and distribution, told Variety. "We believe this decision will give the public a wider opportunity to see the film over the holiday."

The newspaper said James Bond films have traditionally come out the week before Thanksgiving, but Sony had moved "Solace's" date up to compete with the anticipated "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." Warner Brothers, however, announced last week the Potter film would be delayed until next summer, saying it wanted to even out its revenue flow in the wake of the huge success of "The Dark Knight."