The Spy Universe: Shared or Separate?

JWESTBROOK

The reigning (box office) spy movie hits of recent film are, of course, Bond, Mission Impossible (Ethan Hunt), and Jason Bourne. All have critically acclaimed and critically hated movies under their belt (besides Bourne, perhaps) and all, so far, are continuing franchises. But while revisiting the first (and best, imo) Mission Impossible, I thought to myself:

"Do Bond, Hunt, and Bourne all operate in the same reality?"

To develop this thought further, would Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt have worked with Brosnan AND Craig's Bond, as well as Damon's (and the future Jeremy Renner's) Bourne? Or do they all operate in separate realities?

And if that's too easy for you, do all the Bond's operate in the same world? With such variable tones and styles, its hard to see it that way. I understand it is intended to be the same man, but a man that changes that much suffers from multiple personality disorder.

And........... Go.

shadowonthesun

Separate reliaites. An AVENGERS-style Bond-Bourne-Hunt cross-over might be interesting just to see if it could be done, but it would need a few alterations to each universe. In Bond films, the CIA are good guys; in Bourne, the CIA are corrupt. Obviously, one of these needs to be changed - but how do you decide which one bows to the other?

JWESTBROOK

shadowonthesun said:
In Bond films, the CIA are good guys; in Bourne, the CIA are corrupt.

This is true. But its the main character's relationship that determines that. However, I cant really see Felix Leiter (pre-CR/QoS) being a strict assassin.

shadowonthesun

No, you're missing the point here. If a Bond-Bourne cross-over took place, then the film would have to commit to one interpretation of the CIA. It cannot be good and bad as per the requirements of the individual characters - it has to be one or the other.

JWESTBROOK

Weeeeellllllll you could play with it. If Bourne as a lead, still running from the CIA, but in England, and you had Bond assigned to pursue, you could play both sides of the game. But, of course, your right. In the end, you'd have to pick a side. I personally would like to see spy's honor and Bond eventually backs Bourne and lets him go, to continue to run while Bond makes up some story of escape. Thus, of course, picking Bournes side. But for the majority of the movie you could play both.

JWESTBROOK said:
But its the main character's relationship that determines that.

To clarify I meant in their respective movies. A shared movie would have to pick a side.

Back to the topic, in MI:I, Hunt eventually hides out in England, after stealing the NOC list. Thus, his CIA pursuers call upon MI5 for assistance. I think Hunt, still being a some-what agent of the CIA, and Bond are the most believable couple to operate in the same setting. NOT in the majority of MI:I, but once, of course, Hunt is reinstated into duty, I could believably see them working in the field together.

MajorDSmythe

But if the IMF call upon MI5, why would Bond get involed, he's MI6. And if Hunt is hiding out in England, then Bond can't help him, as the UK is MI5's turf.

JWESTBROOK

Nonono, I simply was showing you that they DO in fact work together (IMF and MI5). That was just an example I gave. But as a franchise, Hunt is usually still an IMF agent, and my point was that Bond and Hunt are more likely to work in the same field over Bond and Bourne. Hunt's storyline is a little more Bondish than Bourne's storyline.

Did that clear things up? I wasn't trying to say they woulld work together in MI:I, just that they COULD operate in the same universe.

Master_Dahark

I suppose this fits, so I'll share it-
Back when League of Extraordinary Gentlemen came out, Wizard Magazine had a quick little 'what if' article where movies did the same thing (as LXG did with book characters). It was pretty cool- it had James Bond going rogue, and the combined might of the likes of Indiana Jones, Terminator, Bourne and IMF to bring him down. Hell maybe even freaking Batman, I can't remember, lol

lol it was totally ridiculous, but the idea was kind of cool- in particular Bond vs IMF

JWESTBROOK

Master_Dahark said:
the likes of Indiana Jones, Terminator, Bourne and IMF to bring him down. Hell maybe even freaking Batman
lol it was totally ridiculous, but the idea was kind of cool- in particular Bond vs IMF

That's a hell of a mix! Its hard picturing bond in a genre blender. The only movie that attempted to *majorly* change or mix genre's in a Bond film (that I can remember) was Moonraker, and it turned out silly compared to other Bond films. CR/QoS have western vibes that add to the story line, but nothing major.

Its hard to see The Terminator and Batman in the same reality as our spy heroes. Indiana Jones had James Bond for a father, so they HAVE to be in the same reality. The time field is just a little hazy XD

I'd like to see, and I know @shadowonthesun brings this up a lot, but a Bond movie that incorporates a lot of fellow 00's. Shadow has this idea of another 00 sent to find Bond as he goes missing. You could do that same story line with the CIA going after Bond. Hunt is sent to find him, or Bourne is sent to kill him. Would be a interesting mash up for sure.

OHMSS69

I reckon they could exist but I like the idea of Bourne going up against 007. Say he is on the run from CIA and goes to England ( I liked this idea, thanks) and M assigns Bond and the female 00 we briefly saw in DAD to bring him in or terminate with extreme prejudice...be fun watching the two 00's following and tracking Bourne.
Of course Bourne woud turn to Ethan Hunt to help him out and mission impossible guy steps in and that would be one helluva movie.
Bourne and Hunt versus Bond and the female 00
Who do you root for?

thelivingroyale

OHMSS69 said:
I reckon they could exist but I like the idea of Bourne going up against 007. Say he is on the run from CIA and goes to England ( I liked this idea, thanks) and M assigns Bond and the female 00 we briefly saw in DAD to bring him in or terminate with extreme prejudice...be fun watching the two 00's following and tracking Bourne.
Of course Bourne woud turn to Ethan Hunt to help him out and mission impossible guy steps in and that would be one helluva movie.
Bourne and Hunt versus Bond and the female 00
Who do you root for?

id take out the female 00, put hunt on bonds side (since the US and the UK are allies) and give bourne some one else as an ally, or just have bourne solo like he is most of the time. actually, hunt has a whole team, so it would be bond, hunt and the rest of the MI team vs just bourne??? that doesnt seem fair come to think of it. idea, bourne could pair up with evelin salt (from that jodie movie, she was forced to go rogue at the end i think)

0BradyM0Bondfanatic7

I think Bourne would lay everyone out, even on his own. He has a smarter improvisational sense that Bond for sure. Bond has gadgets to save him all the time, but Bourne has to tackle the situation without any help whatsoever. The hard choice would be Bourne vs. Hunt. Ethan and Jason are both extremely matched in fighting/brawling, and have both been Langley boys. Ethan has his team to back him up, but again Bourne is all alone in this, and must improvise every action he takes. I can see Bourne beating them all actually. Or they could all join up and fight a bigger evil so none have to die. I love them all too much! :-"

thelivingroyale

0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 said:
I think Bourne would lay everyone out, even on his own. He has a smarter improvisational sense that Bond for sure. Bond has gadgets to save him all the time, but Bourne has to tackle the situation without any help whatsoever. The hard choice would be Bourne vs. Hunt. Ethan and Jason are both extremely matched in fighting/brawling, and have both been Langley boys. Ethan has his team to back him up, but again Bourne is all alone in this, and must improvise every action he takes. I can see Bourne beating them all actually. Or they could all join up and fight a bigger evil so none have to die. I love them all too much! :-"

bourne would kill everyone, but not before bond slept with his girlfriend and ethan and his team stole all his stuff and blew up his house

SharkBait

It's like clay ; you can mold it. If you want it, you could make them all work in the same universe. But as it is, they're working in their own existences. Separate from the others.

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