4 Potential Bond Movie Mashups

Could Bond, James Bond, be up for grabs?

Sony holds the rights to the mega-spy franchise that continues this winter with “Spectre.” That may not last for long. The Hollywood Reporter says the rights to the Bond film series will be up for grabs beyond that. Sony produced three Bond films under an agreement with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer — “Casino Royale,” “Quantum of Solace” and “Skyfall.”

Speculation that another major studio will battle for the franchise rights has begun. What might that mean for 007’s future? For starters, we could see the seventh actor cast as James Bond. That guessing game has begun in earnest.

It also may open up the possibility of Bond sharing the screen with other heroic figures. Movie crossovers are all the rage in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with characters appearing across a multitude of films for super synergy. Why not try the same with film’s most famous spy?

Just think of the possibilities …

The ‘Spy’ Who Loved Me

Melissa McCarthy proved her box office mettle anew this summer with “Spy,” a film that casts her as a reluctant CIA agent tracking down her co-worker’s killer. The Daniel Craig-led Bond series is far more serious than the earlier Roger Moore era. The “Saint” actor saved the world with a twinkle in his eye and a gadget for every occasion. Marry the two film franchises, or simply give McCarthy’s “Spy” a juicy cameo, and you’ve immediately changed the tone of the grim Bond saga.

‘Furious’ Fusion

The Bond franchise set a high standard for car chases years ago. Now the “Fast & Furious” series pushes the cinematic pedal to the metal. Why not bring Dom and the gang into Bond’s turf? The “Furious” heroes often skirt the law, which would lend the Bond series a fresh moral complexity.

Bond Re-‘Bourne’

It doesn’t take an expert to see how Matt Damon’s “Bourne” saga influenced modern action movies. Those fast cuts, jittery camera angles and bare-knuckled brawls suddenly started turning up in non “Bourne” features, like “Casino Royale.” So why not bring 007 together with Jason Bourne, a man struggling to learn his true identity? They could start as enemies and slowly learn to depend on each other when given a common foe.

‘Impossible’ Collaboration

Tom Cruise’s spy series “Mission: Impossible” lived in the shadows of the bigger Bond triumphs. Then 2011’s “Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol” delivered some of the most exhilarating action sequences in memory. Now, a fifth “Mission” is heading our way July 31. Why not let Cruise and Craig collaborate rather than compete for box office glory? Cruise’s Ethan Hunt is a master of disguise, a party trick that would add an element of mystery to a standard Bond caper.

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