Jesus Christ, it’s Jason Bourne. And this time, he’s here to stay, following the blockbuster announcement that NBCUniversal has struck a sweeping deal to acquire all rights, excluding publishing, to Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne and Treadstone book series in perpetuity. Translated for us: we’re about to get more of the amnesiac CIA agent who isn’t even called Jason Bourne. It’s being reported today that Universal ultimately sealed the deal with an offer in excess of $100,000,000 to get the deal done.
“Since its debut in 2002, the iconic Bourne franchise has reshaped the spy genre with groundbreaking films that set new standards for cinematic action,” said Universal Pictures president Peter Cramer. “We’re energized to continue expanding the Bourne universe into the future with exciting new stories for global audiences.”
Jeffrey Weiner, chairman & CEO of Captivate Entertainment and executor of Ludlum’s estate, echoed the excitement: “We are thrilled that the ‘Bourne’ franchise will remain at Universal. We look forward to working with the Universal team to expand the Bourne franchise across Universal’s varied platforms.”
Frank Marshall, who has produced every entry in the series, will continue to steer future installments alongside Weiner and Captivate’s Ben Smith. Captivate has managed Ludlum’s estate rights since 2001, shepherding the property from page to screen.
What Is the ‘Jason Bourne’ Series About?
Universal has released five Bourne films to date: Doug Liman’s The Bourne Identity; Paul Greengrass’ The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, and Jason Bourne; plus the Jeremy Renner-led spin-off The Bourne Legacy, directed by Tony Gilroy. Together, they’ve raked in more than $1.64 billion worldwide, with Matt Damon’s portrayal of Bourne becoming one of the definitive action roles of the 21st century.
The films follow Bourne, an amnesiac operative who is initially found floating at sea with no idea who he is or how he ended up there. The films, acclaimed for their stunning action sequences and Greengrass‘ revolutionary — at the time — shaky cam, led Damon to a new level of fame as an action hero. Supremacy and Ultimatum are considered two of the finest action films of the 21st century, and brought the story to a dramatic head as Bourne finally stumbed upon his true identity.
This deal now sets the stage for new chapters in Bourne’s story — and while no specific film has been announced, the odds of Damon suiting up for at least one more globe-trotting, bone-crunching mission just skyrocketed.
via Collider