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British secret agent James Bond first sprung to fictional life in author Ian Fleming's 1953 novel, Casino Royale, which needed three printings to keep up with the demand. Fleming followed with a series of novels and short stories featuring Bond until his death in 1964, at which point the character was also a big screen success as well.
Conversely, Robert Ludlum wrote his first Jason Bourne novel with 1980's The Bourne Identity, writing two more before his death in 2001. Ludlum did not live long enough to see 2002's The Bourne Identity or its subsequent sequels, but, like Fleming, Ludlum's character lives on, with other authors taking over the characters for the novels and the film franchises continuing to find success.
Yet, with Bond making his 23rd big screen adventure in this weekend's Skyfall, we began to wonder: which spy rules the other? There's only one place for Bourne and Bond to face off against one another and that's in our Character Cage Match!
review their strengths and weaknesses before voting in our poll >> Posted 11.12.12 by Ryan -
Back in 2009, The Bourne Ultimatum screenwriter George Nolfi was hired to write a fourth Bourne movie for The Bourne Supremacy and Ultimatum director Paul Greengrass and actor Matt Damon. Greengrass left the proposed sequel, and Nolfi went on to write and direct the upcoming The Adjustment Bureau (which stars Damon). Universal moved on to The Bourne Legacy, which won't feature Jason Bourne, but another protagonist with the same training and skill set and has Tony Gilroy writing and directing.
In an interview with The Playlist, Nolfi explained what happened to his Bourne 4 was abandoned.
what happened? >> Posted 02.27.11 by Ryan -
Tonight's Hollywood's Top Ten takes a look at the best motorcycle scenes on the big screen. Which movies made the list? Find out in the clip below. Then tune in tonight at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT to see the full episode, or catch one of its encore showings. ReelzChannel is 299 on Dish, 238 on DirecTV, and available on your cable system.
Posted 07.26.10 by reelz -
Universal is not giving up on Bourne 4. Paul Greengrass, director of both The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum, decided not to return for the sequel in December, after which Matt Damon countered that Greengrass might return if they can get the right story, at one point suggesting that Bourne 4 might be a prequel. In February, Greengrass admitted that he had "moved on", but that hasn't stopped Universal from attempting to solidify a story for Bourne 4 regardless of knowing whether Greengrass or Damon will return.
Creating a legacy >> Posted 06.10.10 by Ryan -
Only a few days ago, it was announced that Paul Greengrass, director of the second and third movies in the Bourne series, would not be returning to direct a fourth. It was unknown at that time how this would affect plans for another movie, but it now appears that Greengrass' permanent departure could mean the end of the Bourne franchise altogether.
In a recent interview with MTV, series star Matt Damon said, "I woldn't do it with anyone else." However, Damon was optimistic that Greengrass would return if they could find the right story.
I think it's gonna happen some day. We just got to get a script and we don't have one. So, embarking on something, you know, and aiming at a release date without any story would just be too risky. And, we don't wanna risk ... you know, we really love it! We love the character and we love the three films ... there's no reason to mess with it unless we have really a good one to follow it up with it.
Posted 12.05.09 by BrentJS -
Bourne Supremacy and Bourne Ultimatum director Paul Greengrass has decided to part ways and quit Bourne 4, according to The Playlist.
The fourth installment has a script already in place by Ultimatum writer George Nolfi. However, in August, Universal hired a different writer, Josh Zetumer, to pen a "parallel" script. Greengrass was apparently not consulted on the move, which precipitated his departure.
What this means for Matt Damon's involvement in Bourne 4 is unknown, though his upcoming The Green Zone, a reunion with Greengrass, shows Damon's loyalty to the director. It's unlikely that Damon will stay on board if Greengrass is not convinced to return. Even if Damon stays on board, he admitted in September that Bourne 4 wouldn't start production for "maybe two years" and that the script would have to be right because he "won't do one just to do it."
So far, it doesn't sound like a Bourne 4 is likely to happen anytime soon, or at all.
Posted 12.02.09 by Ryan -
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Universal has hired Josh Zetumer to write the script for the fourth Bourne movie. Zetumer is also working on a script for a new version of Frank Herbert's novel Dune.
Originally, Bourne Ultimatum scribe George Nolfi was on board to pen the fourth movie in the franchise. But he also signed to write and direct The Adjustment Bureau, an adaptation of a Philip K. Dick short story that will feature Bourne star Matt Damon. With that movie about to enter production, Nolfi abandoned the Bourne franchise, at least for the moment. Universal hopes that he will return.
Posted 08.21.09 by reelz -
Producer Frank Marshall (Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Bourne Identity) spoke to ComingSoon.net about some of his upcoming projects, including a fourth Bourne movie, which Matt Damon and The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum director Paul Greengrass agreed to return for last year. Marshall says the project is moving forward, but the story is still being developed.
We'd like to shoot next year. It's trying to get everybody's schedules in the right place and getting the script right. We've done pretty well with these scripts that are pretty loosely put together, but I'd like the script to be really solid this time before we go forward. We're spending a lot of time on this story.
What about another Jurassic Park?
We just have to see if they can come up with a story. We don't have a story.
Marshall is also developing a remake of the 1980's classic The Neverending Story.
We love the book and we've always thought there was an opportunity (because) there were a lot of elements in the book that weren't in the movie. It's another one where we're still working on the rights and it's a huge thing to get it. Once we get it, we'll bring on a writer, but that's kind of off in the distance. But it's a great story.
Marshall is currently producing The Last Airbender, M. Night Shyamalan's live-action adaptation of the animated series. The movie opens July 2, 2010.
Posted 06.17.09 by Ryan -
Traitor -- a spy movie about international espionage -- is being marketed as "this year's Bourne Ultimatum." Don Cheadle stars as a Samir Horn, a former Special Ops soldier who now aids terrorists. Guy Pearce is Roy Clayton, the federal agent tasked with tracking him down...and trying to understand Horn's decision to work against his country. We recently spoke to both stars about Traitor. For more details and clips from the movie, see our interview with Don Cheadle and our interview with Guy Pearce.
Posted 08.27.08 by reelz -
It seems that nothing in the world can stop amnesiac superspy Jason Bourne -- not even the death of his creator, author Robert Ludlum, who passed away in 2001 after penning the three novels upon which the blockbuster trilogy is based.
Variety reports that star Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass have signed on for a fourth chapter of the Bourne franchise, much to the surprise of those of us who assumed that the series would end with 2007's The Bourne Ultimatum. No word on when the flick starts shooting or what it will be called. Our suggestion: The Bourne Addendum.
Source: Variety
Posted 02.25.08 by reelz