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Universal Secures Exclusive Rights for Jason Bourne’s Future

Posted on Sunday, November 23rd, 2008 by David Chen

Recently, Variety reported that Universal Pictures has aquired the exclusive rights to Jason Bourne character and has inked a first-look deal for other Ludlum novels. This new deal “paves the way” for future Bourne installments. The fourth Bourne film is currently scheduled to be released in summer 2010, with Paul Greengrass directing Matt Damon as Bourne, with a script by George Nolfi.

Jeffrey Weiner, chariman-CEO of Ludlum Entertainment, will now be an active participant in developing the projects. Worth noting is that the Ludlum estate will have contractual approval on screenplays, characters, and actors for the new films, which seems to indicate that any new movies will hew closely to the spirit of the books they are based on. With several high-profile Ludlum projects already in the pipeline, and dozens more that have yet to be put to film, Ludlum’s properties are fast becoming as hot as those of the late Phillip K. Dick (Ludlum left us in 2001).

Personally, I’m rather torn about this news. I am probably one of the biggest Bourne fans out there (I saw both Supremacy and Ultimatum on opening night in the theaters, and loved them both despite their flaws). But with the Bourne series becoming a huge cash cow grossing more than $1 billion worldwide, Universal obviously sees it as a way to print money and to compete against the newly rejuvenated Bond franchise (whose recent films, ironically, took a lot of their inspiration from Bourne). I don’t want to live to see the day when Bourne Film #13 is coming out in theaters with Haley Joel Osment as Bourne and Simon West directing. The trilogy was wonderful and singular, and the fourth film has a small shot at continuing the legacy. I would prefer that they not milk this one until all that’s left is a withered and dessicated teat of greatness.

Discuss: Are you looking forward to more Bourne films? Do you want this series to become as massive as the Bond franchise?

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  • I am very fascinated by the character itself regardless of how many books Ludllum has written in that same theme, Jason Bourne's story is a very touching and immortal story. It never has an end, till he finds Carlos, the master assassin. But, heck no. Carlos is in a REAL prison in France now. So, I gather, no producer wants to touch his name, in any Film script. What if the man, stakes a claim in Copyrights from inside the Jail? Think of that.... Otherwise, I am game to write a stunning script myself, about the real DUAL between Jason Bourne and Carlos.
  • LordToastButter
    I loved the first three movies. Given that they only loosely followed the trilogy of films they can still use a lot of the material from them for additional movies. Heck Bourne discovered who he was by the end of the first book and became a college professor. There is a lot more to bourne then just him trying to discover who he his. Hence the 2 other novels that followed the Bourne ID.
  • Zig
    I'd see it.

    Coz the last Bond sucked. I know that's irrelevant. But so was their plot.
  • there are only three Bourne novels written by Ludlum, the rest are other authors using the same character, so most likely they suck, because the Bourne Ultimatum wrapped up the novel's storyline quite nicely and Bourne in the novels was in his mid-50s so i can't see how much more they could have gotten out of his character, I can't see a story about a 60 yr old man being any good
  • there are only three Bourne novels written by the Ludlum, the rest are other authors using the same character, so most likely they suck, because the Bourne Ultimatum wrapped up the novel's storyline quite nicely and Bourne in the novels was in his mid-50s so i can't see how much more they could have gotten out of his character, I can't see a story about a 60 yr old man being any good
  • Aaghaaz Madan
    FUCK. George Nolfi? Are you kidding me? The guy who wrote fucking Ocean's Twelve? Fucking Timeline? In order to make a Bourne film, you need to have Tony Gilroy. George Nolfi established his carreer on structuring shit-stupid action films that sound to studios like nice genre films with decent nostalgic value, whereas Tony Gilroy has to chops to make fucking figure skating amazing. He's the dude that wrote and directed Michael Clayton.
  • exactly (Y)
  • Dan
    You are not alone! Apart from a few great fight sequences I found all 3 Bourne movies unengaging and boring.
  • Correct me if i'm wrong, but there are 4 books, right? If so, as long as they use the source material, this is good news.
  • TtotheC
    I loved all the Bourne films and i have reservations about continuing on. The main problem with building on something like this was the whole Bourne concept had a finality, he gets his memory back, find out who and what he was etc.. Now that he is going to keep going on the strength of that story weakens and replacing it with another sub plot turns him into another Diehard type character aka the unluckiest guy on earth. I mean who would hand out with John Mclane? You're getting stuck in some sh!t for sure.
  • cujo
    I don't take Matt Damon seriously as an action star. I have no problem with the Bourne Books, but Matt Damon takes the plausibility factor away from me. He will always be Ben Affleck's friend to me.
  • Ben Afleck
    who looks more like james t. kirk. that picture of damon or the other guy who's playing him.
  • Didn't we say everything that needed to be said with the first 3 Bourne films?
  • Matt Damon looks a little like Mark Wahlberg in that shot.
    Imagine THAT recasting...
  • The way I see it, as been a fan of the book over the films, the Flicks have actually been pretty decent and have showed no sign in slowing down. Their stride was just picking up after the end of the third one and I see it continuing. There are actually two more books in the Bourne series so I would like to see those translated into film. We have Betrayal and Sanction while not penned by the late Robert Ludlum, I thought they were an amazing treat, especially if you are a fan of the character.

    I would recommend anyone, especially you Mr. Chen if you are a fan of the character, to pick those up and see what I mean. It wouldn't be hard to see why Universal wants to produce more, as the character is still battling it out in his universe in his home medium, print.
  • I'm more interested in the news that other Ludlum books are being developed and that the estate has nough control to ensure the movie storyline doesn't deviate too much from the novel. While I loved both the movies and the books it really bothered me how much they changed when making the movie, i mean the only real similarties between the two are the fact that there is a guy named Bourne who lost his memory.

    So hopefully when say the Sigma Protocol or whatever comes out it will be just as awesome as the Bourne movies but stick closer to the storyline of the novel it's based on.


    and to answer your question, 3 books, 3 movies, and that's all there should be, i haven't read the non-ludlum novels and i cant see the 4th movie being as good as the first 3.
  • Chromey
    "I would prefer that they not milk this one until all that’s left is a withered and dessicated teat of greatness".

    But that's the Hollywood way. Now more than ever before.
  • Matt Damon looks like Mark Wahlberg in that shot. Imagine THAT recasting...
  • The new Bourne film will not follow the new books. At all.
  • nelson
    i agree i dont know whats left to tell i guess he could always go back to Maryland l and fin his parents
  • "I don’t want to live to see the day when Bourne Film #13 is coming out in theaters with Haley Joel Osment as Bourne and Simon West directing."

    I'm still giggling thinking of Haley Joel Osment as Bourne...

    I agree, I think they should stop with the triology... I'll probably see more that come out but its probably best to stop when you're ahead, you know? Don't drag it on too long
  • Wall•EPlaysPong
    No more Bourne's. I like the three as they are. Felt complete and whole.
  • Mick J
    Heh, sorry, my point being, how do they extend that to more movies.
  • Mick J
    Yea.... but Bourne the character is based on NOT knowing who the hell he is or what happened to him, and thus finding those who changed him.

    He sort of found that out didn't he? So now what? He gets hit in the head by a rock and forgets all over again? What sets him apart now from any other secret agent out there? What drives him?

    Bond does it for Queen and country and women and shit, Bourne does it for what?
  • As long as it's Damon and Greengrass, there shouldn't be a problem whatsoever.
  • egyptnation
    dave, do you think anyone thought that there would be 21 bond films when they made the first one?
  • I'll see it while crossing my fingers hoping they don't destroy one the most solid trilogy in years.
  • XLA
    I think the pentalogy (sp?) is becoming the new trilogy, especially with the news of the upcoming Spider-Man films. With Bourne, though, I don't see it working.
  • I seem to be one of the only people who didn't enjoy the first 3.
  • comes not come im sorry i typed it too fast
  • i would see it if has good reviews when it come out.
  • As long as they're producing films of the same quality as the first three, then I'll keep buying tickets.
  • Yay..... I think?
  • i mean i'll see it.
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