With the estate of the late author Robert Ludlum seeking fresh platforms for the espionage series beyond Universal Studios, the Jason Bourne franchise is changing hands. The Bourne series and the entire Ludlum library are being aggressively shopped by WME, representing Ludlum’s estate, for a possible rethinking of the beloved spy novel.
Captivate Entertainment, who currently have the rights in the interest of the Ludlum estate, and Universal created the 2016 release Jason Bourne, which saw the character portrayed for the final time nearly a decade ago. Whether veteran actor Matt Damon will be asked to reprise his character in any forthcoming versions remains to be seen as negotiations are currently in the initial stages.
A number of key industry players, such as Skydance, Apple, and Netflix, have been said to have sat down with the Ludlum estate to discuss the potential of acquiring the rights. Surprisingly, Universal itself remains in a position to regain control if it offers a competitive offer. This move is a sign of the growing desperation for established intellectual properties as studios and streaming services compete for known brands to bring in audiences.
Jason Bourne came from the pages of Robert Ludlum’s 1980 novel The Bourne Identity. The character first appeared on the big screen in 2002 when Matt Damon partnered with director Doug Liman to turn the tale into a film. The film came just a few years after Daniel Craig’s reinterpretation of James Bond in Casino Royale, changing the direction of spy films to realism and dark, realistic action scenes instead of dependency on futuristic gadgetry and spectacle.
The Bourne Identity‘s success spawned two direct sequels based on Ludlum’s novels: The Bourne Supremacy (2004) and The Bourne Ultimatum (2007). In 2012, Universal tried to broaden the universe with The Bourne Legacy, with Jeremy Renner playing a new character. Unfortunately, the film did not take off. Several years later, Damon reprised his legendary role in Jason Bourne (2016), which made $415 million globally, reaffirming the popularity of the franchise.
The unexpected change of the Bourne rights occurs as competition for veteran intellectual properties is increasing. With diminishing numbers of prominent franchises up for grabs, large studios and streaming platforms are looking to get hold of recognizable titles that are pre-packaged with built-in viewers. In the recent past, Amazon acquired the James Bond franchise, coming to terms with veteran producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.
Prior to hiring Conclave director Edward Berger in late 2023 to create a new strategy, Universal had looked several ways to bring Jason Bourne back to life. But before any firm plans could come to fruition, things stopped, which allowed the current negotiations to proceed.
Jason Bourne’s future is presently under threat owing to Hollywood’s ongoing rivalry for profitable franchises. Jason Bourne is not done yet, irrespective of whether the superspy has a new future with a streaming giant or grandly returns to Universal.
