Variety makes note of videogame titan Electronic Arts signing a deal with the estate of Bourne creator Robert Ludlum to make games based on his spy books. Ludlum passed away in 2001 but thanks to the tremendous box office success of Universal’s Bourne films, the author has never been hotter — or more attractive — to entertainment companies.
In respect to the wider appeal of Ludlum’s creatheions, t parallels to James Bond creator Ian Fleming are starting to become increasingly visible. Fleming passed away in 1964, only two years after the first Bond film appeared in theaters. Forty years later the word “spy” was practically synonymous with 007 until in 2002 Matt Damon played the amnesiac assassin Jason Bourne. The success of The Bourne Identity and its two sequels pushed the owners of the Bond movie franchise to blow the dust off of their franchise and present a harder edged James Bond in Casino Royale. Some have suggested that Daniel Craig’s thuggish portrayal of a no-nonsense Bond owes much to Damon’s Bourne character. I think that they’re right.
Late last year Universal Pictures, who made the Bourne pictures, struck a deal with Ludlum Entertainment that was similar to the one EA just made: Universal now has access to develop projects based on the remainder of Ludlum’s library, about 25 books, as well as give the studio an exclusive deal to make more Bourne films. Already a four Bourne movie is being written and both Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass are coming back to make it.
Now consider these two big deals between the estate of Ludlum and EA/Universal and think about what it could be like 20 years hence for Mr. Bond. Better watch you back and start thinking about ways to grow your franchise, James.
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