The Bourne Difference: Key Changes Between the Book and the Film

      Ricky Church discusses the significant differences between the Jason Bourne book and film series…

      With the recent announcement that the Jason Bourne franchise will transition from Universal to a different studio following the sale of its rights, it’s an opportune moment to reflect on the series, especially since it's uncertain whether Matt Damon will reprise his role or if the new studio will opt for a complete reboot. Should they choose to reboot everything, it could present a chance for the upcoming Bourne films to closely align with Robert Ludlum’s renowned novels, more so than the Damon iterations ever did.

      Although the Damon films were entertaining and sparked a new era of spy movies (with Bourne’s frustrating shaky cam becoming somewhat of a standard for several years), they sacrificed much of the enigmatic allure and character complexity found in Ludlum’s books as they loosely interpreted the stories to suit a modern audience. While I appreciate the films for what they represent, I believe they overlooked the subtleties of Ludlum’s work. Here are some of the most notable alterations made by the films compared to the novels.

      The Time Period

      This alteration is the most apparent and one the films could not escape, as The Bourne Identity was initially published in 1980. Ludlum drew heavily from the late 60s and 70s, with significant historical events, notably the Vietnam War, impacting the narrative. This influence is consistent throughout The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum, which explore the politics of 1980s China and the waning days of the Cold War. The modernization in Damon’s version of The Bourne Identity employed early 2000s technology, including high-tech satellites, tracking devices, and cell phones, intensifying the pressure on Bourne as he evaded the CIA and its various assassins.

      However, this update significantly modified Bourne’s backstory, leading us to another deviation…

      The Real Bourne Identity

      In the film, Damon’s character is portrayed as a highly trained assassin for the covert CIA program Treadstone, willing to eliminate anyone without hesitation. Across the trilogy, their brutal training methods reveal a ruthless approach, psychologically breaking recruits to execute missions without question. It’s not surprising when Bourne discovers he’s actually an assassin employed by a clandestine CIA division that even the CIA itself wouldn’t officially endorse.

      In the novels, Bourne's identity is far more intricate and shrouded in mystery, riddled with red herrings. He is reputedly one of the deadliest assassins globally, rivaling Carlos the Jackal, a notorious assassin with an extensive network looking to eliminate Bourne from the equation.

      However, that’s not the complete truth. Jason Bourne served in the Vietnam War and was part of the Medusa unit, composed of dangerous criminals specifically trained outside standard engagement rules. Bourne ultimately betrayed his unit and was killed by David Webb, Medusa's leader. Webb subsequently joined the CIA, assumed the identity of Jason Bourne, and fabricated killings to draw the Jackal out and kill him. Their cat-and-mouse game shifted when the Jackal attempted to kill Webb, resulting in his amnesia and his belief that he was Jason Bourne.

      While the update to the present day and Damon’s age excluded Vietnam, filmmakers could have substituted it with the Gulf War or a more recent conflict to maintain much of Bourne’s identity, shifting the focus to his rivalry with the Jackal instead of the conventional portrayal of sinister CIA figures attempting to conceal their actions—a recurring theme throughout the films. Although this adaptation kept the series engaging, the intricate twists in Ludlum’s original novel provided a uniquely thrilling spy experience.

      Bourne’s Allies

      At the start of his journey as a spy with amnesia, Bourne had a relatively small circle of allies. As his story progressed, he acquired more allies, even after recalling his identity as David Webb. However, this isn't entirely reflected in the films, where Bourne often operates alone.

      In the novels, Bourne collaborates with Alex Conklin, his CIA handler played by Chris Cooper in the films. In both the book and the film versions of Identity, Conklin is a foe to Bourne, acting on the belief that Bourne/Webb has gone rogue. There’s also Dr. Morris Panov, a psychiatrist assigned to assist Webb in coping with his amnesia and navigating the conflicting personas of David Webb and Jason Bourne. In The Bourne Supremacy and Ultimatum, both characters are integral to Bourne's missions, while the films omit Panov and portray Conklin as corrupt, resulting in his death by the end of Identity.

      While the films introduced new allies like Pamela Landy and Nicky, Bourne predominantly operated independently throughout most of the series. Although the absence of or changes to Bourne’s companions do not significantly detract from the