Former spy Jason Bourne may be perpetually on the run, but NBCUniversal owns him in perpetuity.
The studio has announced that they have permanently purchased the film and TV rights to the character and the Robert Ludlum spy novels he first appeared in.
Universal had previously held just an option on those rights and had produced five films and a 2019 TV series, Treadstone, before they expired and reverted back to Ludlum’s estate this past March. At that time, the Ludlum estate had shopped the rights around with Skydance, Apple and Netflix all reportedly expressing interest. Universal remained in the mix, ultimately submitting the offer that won them the permanent rights.
In a press release, Universal Pictures president Peter Cramer stated, “Since its debut in 2002, the iconic Bourne franchise has reshaped the spy genre with groundbreaking films that set new standards for cinematic action. We’re energized to continue expanding the Bourne universe into the future with exciting new stories for global audiences.”
Universal launched their cinematic adaptation of the Bourne novels in 2002, with The Bourne Identity. Matt Damon starred as the US government black ops spy trying to recover his own memory and identity while avoiding capture by the organization he previously worked for. The film’s gritty and grounded take on the material stood out as a contrast to the glamorous and gadget-filled James Bond movies. The Bourne Identity proved influential on the Bond franchise as it too shifted to a more realistic world setting when Daniel Craig joined the franchise for Casino Royale (2006).
Frank Marshall, who has served as a producer on the Jason Bourne franchise since its beginning, will continue on in that capacity going forward.
Locking up the rights to the Jason Bourne franchise permanently is a good movie for NBCUniversal. The studio is low on recognizable franchise IPs and this could be a crown jewel for them if handled correctly.
