The Bourne Franchise is one of the few action franchises that defined the action-thriller genre for a generation. With the latest instalment of the film coming back in 2016, Jason Bourne, it seems the time is right to introduce the next instalment in the film, and there is already a captivating plot point that might bring the fans of the franchise back to the theatre.
Bringing characters back from the dead is always a gimmick that franchises resolve in a bid to keep themselves alive for a little longer. However, it seems the Bourne franchise already had something in mind and could deliver a stunning transmedia experience if it manages to carry it forward to the next instalment of the franchise.
Also Read: Matt Damon Won’t Return to Jason Bourne 6 if 1 Condition isn’t Met: 5 Stars Who Can Replace Him
Julia Stiles’s Nicky Parsons is alive and well, ready for the next Jason Bourne adventure
In the current entertainment landscape that has been shaped by Hollywood film media, transmedia narratives have become more important than ever to generate audience experience. Similarly, the Jason Bourne franchise has also found itself engineering transmedia narratives to facilitate its stories and films. One such part of the transmedia piece of the story, the theme park ride called the Bourne Stuntacular, features Julia Stiles’s Nicky Parsons.
The catch? The ride allegedly takes place after 2016’s Jason Bourne, in which Stiles’s character was pronounced dead.
Throughout the short video, the character says that it is important that Bourne thinks that she is dead and that it would be best for him to remain under that misconception. The character also implies that there are some “reasons” why this must be the case, adding an extra layer of mystery that could be approached in the following film, should it be made.
It is not unheard of for theme parks to be integrated into franchise storytelling
Hollywood has a very small but vivid history of integrating theme park rides into the mainline cinematic universe of its franchise. While there have been properties like Pirates of the Caribbean and Jungle Cruise that had their start as theme park rides, there are also franchises like Marvel and Star Wars that have invented parallel storylines just for their theme park rides.
Star Wars in particular has made the world of its theme park, Batuu, canon in its mainline universe by referencing it in its 2018 offering Solo: A Star Wars Story. Similar to this, The Bourne Franchise could build its next film in a similar manner, which could not only draw attention to this ride but also have a profound reason to make the next film. It will also have the extra edge by bringing back a fan-favourite character to a beloved franchise, something the fans will be bound to appreciate.
