The rights to the iconic Jason Bourne spy franchise are up for grabs as WME takes on the task of shopping them on behalf of the late Robert Ludlum’s estate. The aim is to find a new home for the franchise, with hopes of bringing the superspy back to the big screen on a more consistent basis.
Jason Bourne last appeared in 2016’s Jason Bourne film, which was produced by Universal and Captivate Entertainment, the company that manages Ludlum’s film rights. It remains unclear whether Matt Damon, who has portrayed the title character across multiple films, will return for any future installments.
Industry sources suggest that streaming giants like Skydance, Apple, and Netflix have already met with Ludlum’s estate to discuss the rights, while Universal could potentially reclaim them if it makes an appealing bid.
The character of Jason Bourne first emerged from Ludlum’s 1980 novel The Bourne Identity, and was brought to the big screen in 2002, with Damon and director Doug Liman revitalizing the spy genre. The film, arriving just before Daniel Craig’s reimagining of James Bond in Casino Royale, helped usher in an era of spy films focused on gritty realism rather than gadgets and flashy tech.
The success of The Bourne Identity led to two sequels, The Bourne Supremacy (2004) and The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), both based on Ludlum’s books. In 2012, Universal expanded the universe with The Bourne Legacy, starring Jeremy Renner as a new character, but the spin-off failed to take off. Damon returned for Jason Bourne in 2016, which grossed $415 million worldwide.
This move to sell the rights comes amid an ongoing rush for intellectual property, as fewer well-known franchises remain available. Recently, Amazon secured the rights to the James Bond franchise from producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.
Universal had considered reviving the Bourne series in recent years, with Conclave director Edward Berger brought on in late 2023 to develop a fresh take on the character. However, plans for a new Bourne film have yet to materialize.
Related topic:
‘The Diplomat’ : A Tale of Terror, Espionage, and Survival
“On Falling” Explores Immigrant Workers’ Struggles in the Gig Economy
Netflix Greenlights Remake of Stephen King’s Horror Novel Cujo