S Poddar
The Jason Bourne franchise is on the move, as the estate of author Robert Ludlum explores new opportunities for the spy series beyond Universal Studios. WME, acting on behalf of Ludlum’s estate, is actively shopping the rights to both the Bourne franchise and the larger Ludlum library, which could mean a reboot for the popular espionage saga.
The main goal is to give new life to the franchise, getting Jason Bourne back into the public eye more regularly. The character was last seen almost a decade ago in 2016’s Jason Bourne, which was made by Universal and Captivate Entertainment and now owns the rights on behalf of the Ludlum estate. Since talks are in their initial phases, it is unclear if veteran actor Matt Damon will return for any upcoming adaptations.
A number of industry heavyweights, such as Skydance, Apple, and Netflix, have been said to have met with the Ludlum estate to discuss the potential of acquiring the rights. Notably, Universal itself may still be able to take back control if it makes a competitive offer. This is an indication of the growing need for established intellectual properties, as studios and streaming services compete for known brands that can draw in audiences.
Jason Bourne had his beginnings on the pages of Robert Ludlum’s book The Bourne Identity, published in 1980. The character arrived on the big screen in 2002 when Matt Damon collaborated with director Doug Liman to create the movie. The movie came just a couple of years before Daniel Craig’s redefinition of James Bond in Casino Royale, the turning point of spy films toward realism and high-octane, realistic action sequences over heavy dependence on hi-tech gizmos and absurdity.
The box office success of The Bourne Identity was followed by two straight sequels to Ludlum’s novels: The Bourne Supremacy (2004) and The Bourne Ultimatum (2007). In 2012, Universal made the effort to enlarge the universe by introducing The Bourne Legacy with Jeremy Renner playing a different character. The movie did not pick up. After a few years, Damon reprised his legendary role in Jason Bourne (2016), which garnered $415 million globally, confirming the franchise’s appeal.
The unexpected changeover of the Bourne rights coincides with rising competition for upstanding intellectual properties. With diminished options of existing franchises to be acquired, streaming services and top studios are all set to invest in recognizable brand names that go along with captive audiences. Most recently, Amazon acquired the James Bond franchise, securing a deal with veteran producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.
Universal had previously considered options for bringing back Jason Bourne, hiring Conclave helmer Edward Berger in late 2023 to work on a new approach. That process was halted before any tangible plans could be put into action, but it kept the door open for the current talks.
With Hollywood’s ongoing race for lucrative franchises, Jason Bourne’s future is now anyone’s game. Whether the superspy will find a new home with a streaming giant or enjoy a triumphant return to Universal, only time will tell, but one thing is certain—Jason Bourne isn’t done yet.
