A filmmaking duo have stated their intentions to remake the 1981 James Bond movie For Your Eyes Only: Canadian style. So far, only one Bond movie has been made outside of Eon productions – Never Say Never Again. This 1983 movie was itself a remake of 1965’s Thunderball, albeit one that has become the filmic equivalent of a family member that nobody mentions and never gets invited to reunions.
However this has not deterred Lee Demarbre and Ian Driscoll, the Canadian natives who intend to adapt Ian Fleming’s original short story. After overcoming the baffling nature of a James Bond remake, more concrete questions come to mind: Why For Your Eyes Only? Who will be Bond? How? The duo chose For Your Eyes Only because in it, Bond briefly passes through Canada on his way to Vermont and they have stated their desire for Ryan Reynolds to be their Bond.
Although one would be correct in assuming remaking Bond outside of Eon would be a breach of copyright laws, Canada never signed up to the Berne Convention, meaning they don’t recognise international copyrights. In Canada, copyright on literary works expire after 50 years, so the 1960 short story is now up for grabs as far as they are concerned.
However, it also means that the film can not be released in the U.S., the U.K., or anywhere else that recognises the Berne Convention (which is most places). Despite this the filmmakers are confident they can receive financial backing from Asia to make their Canadian Bond a reality. After 32 years, it seems like Never Say Never Again may finally have something to keep it company.
#Peace.Love.Bond
