The kick-butt heroine sequel strategy

Nov. 20 - Whether Oscar winner playing an American secret agent in becomes the first “Bond woman” to get her own movie sequel, there’s no doubt that female action heroes have been kicking butt at the box office.

MGM EXECUTIVES and Berry have acknowledged that they’re considering a spin-off movie based on her character, the sexy but deadly Jinx. No contracts are signed yet, of course, but the spin-off talk certainly hasn’t hurt build buzz for “Die Another Day,” being released in the U.S. on Nov. 22.

Box office analysts are predicting a big opening for the 20th Bond caper and Berry’s presence in the film is getting a lot of the credit.

In TV commercials and movie trailers Berry is featured as prominently as Bond. In interviews Berry describes the sword-wielding Jinx, who appears as the invincible spy’s nemesis, as the “feminine James Bond.”

The 40 year-old Bond franchise may show little signs of aging in terms of making money for MGM, but it’s curious that the movie studio hasn’t seriously tried to expand the film series before. It’s the longest-running, most successful franchise in movie history. Bond parodies, such as New Line Cinema’s series or 007 knock-offs like Columbia Picture’s have been big moneymakers.

Similar rumors briefly emerged about spinning-off the character played by Hong Kong action star who thrilled audiences with her martial arts sequences in But that never happened.

Ian Fleming’s British spy may be the longest-running, most successful franchise in movie history, but would Bond purists and young audiences turn out for a woman secret agent?

“There’s definitely an audience for it,” said Reel Source president Robert Bucksbaum. “People are tired of seeing men kick butt all the time.”

“Halle’s equally liked by men and women,” he added.

A Jinx spin-off may be a long shot, but it’s not surprising that MGM would want to cash in on Berry’s sizzling popularity and box office heat over female action stars.

“Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle,” the sequel to the blockbuster comedy doesn’t open until next summer, but teaser trailers are already being shown in theaters and movie analysts expect the new fist-fighting females film to open big.

Ignore the convoluted storyline or comic book dialogue, the first made $40 million in its opening weekend in Nov. 2000 and grossed $125 million in U.S. box office receipts for Sony Pictures. The lesson being, never underestimate the power of dancing in her underwear.

Actress Angelina Jolie playing the title role in the 2001 summer blockbuster "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider."

is now shooting “Lara Croft and the Cradle of Life” a sequel to the $131 million-grossing for Paramount. Although critically panned as a plotless action mess, “Tomb Raider” raked in nearly $50 million in its opening weekend, proving that audiences will turn out for tough chick flicks, even if the heroine got her start as a video game character.

After “Tomorrow Never Dies” Yeoh resurfaced in 2000 the female-martial arts epic a critical and commercial success which went on to earn $128 million at the box office, proving that intelligent, kick-boxing women can pack ‘em in.

In the days of and action movies were made for male movie-goers with short attention spans, but these days women make up more than half the audience, particularly for younger-skewing films like the explosive spy thriller “XXX,” which starred as a 007 wannabe. “XXX,” which earned $140 million at the box office, actually did more business with 15-22-year-old girls than boys, according to Reel Source.

If Berry goes the action hero route, she has the credentials. She played super-hero Storm in the 2000 hit of the comic book and will be back in the role in the sequel due next summer.

But even with a built-in Bond audience, the series would need a good script.

“People may be interested in the concept, but it has to have an interesting story and likeable characters,” said Reel Source’s Bucksbaum. “Otherwise they won’t stick around.”

Are you listening Lara Croft?