NBCUniversal just pulled off a massive move that could supercharge the future of one of Hollywood’s most iconic action franchises. The company has officially acquired all rights, excluding publishing, to Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne and Treadstone book series, locking them in for good.
That means Bourne isn’t going anywhere, and more importantly, it opens the door wide for a new wave of high-octane film and TV projects.
The acquisition didn’t come easy. According to Variety, the deal was the result of a fierce bidding war with seven studios and streamers vying for the rights. Ultimately, a jaw-dropping nine-figure offer sealed the deal and brought the property back home to Universal.
Peter Cramer, president of Universal Pictures, shared his excitement saying: “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.”
Jeffrey Weiner, chairman and CEO of Captivate Entertainment and executor of Ludlum’s estate, added: “We are thrilled that the ‘Bourne’ franchise will remain at Universal. We look forward to working with the Universal team to expand the Bourne franchise across Universal’s varied platforms.”
With this new chapter, Frank Marshall will continue producing upcoming installments. Marshall has been at the heart of the Bourne franchise since the beginning and will once again team up with Captivate’s Jeffrey Weiner and Ben Smith to shepherd future stories.
Universal has already brought us five Bourne films, starting with The Bourne Identity directed by Doug Liman, followed by The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, and Jason Bourne helmed by Paul Greengrass, and the spin-off The Bourne Legacy starring Jeremy Renner and directed by Tony Gilroy. Together, these films have hauled in over $1.64 billion at the global box office.
NBCUniversal has also stretched the Bourne IP across video games, merchandise, and even a popular live-action theme park show at Universal Studios Orlando called The Bourne Stuntacular.
This deal plants a major flag for Universal and hints at big things to come.
