Universal and Jeff Zucker developing Daniel Silva novels into spy franchise

Universal and Jeff Zucker are developing Daniel Silva's novels into spy franchise. The studio has purchased the feature rights to the series of bestselling books that focus on Gabriel Allon, "a Mossad agent who killed six of the terrorists that murdered Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics, Allon is semi-retired and makes his living as an art restorer. But he still takes assignments as an Israeli spy." 

Zucker left his post as former NBC Universal CEO in January, and became involved as the film's producer because he and Silva are close friends. Silva will be involved in the project as an executive producer. Universal's been interested in adapting the Silva series for several years. In 2007, a movie adaptation of the 2006 novel The Messenger with Pierre Morel attached to direct gaines traction and then never materialized. Universal has sent the project out to writers and plans to find a writer before figuring out which book to focus on. Allon has been in 10 of Silva's novels. The next, Portrait of a Spy, will be published in July. Uni execs Peter Cramer and Jay Polidoro are shepherding the project and attorney Michael Gendler made the deal for Silva.

I love spy related films, so this sounds right up my alley. What are your thoughts on this news?