The JASON BOURNE Franchise Is Up for Sale, Exits Universal
Looks like Jason Bourne is looking for a new home. It’s being reported that the long-running Bourne franchise is officially on the market and stepping away from its home at Universal Pictures.
The rights are now being shopped around, with WME repping the estate of late author Robert Ludlum and overseeing the sale. Among those reportedly kicking the tires: Skydance, Apple, and Netflix.
This is a pretty big deal. The Bourne movies have brought in $1.64 billion globally over five films making it one of the most successful modern spy series not wearing a tux and sipping a martini.
It also means that whoever picks it up is going to reboot the franchise, and it’s not hard to imagine it being adapted as a series next like the Jack Ryan and Jack Reacher shows. It seems to be the way to go with properties like this now.
The franchise began with Ludlum’s 1980 novel The Bourne Identity and it launched with Matt Damon taking on the role of the memory-wiped CIA operative to life in 2002. Damon headlined three back-to-back film withThe Bourne Identity ($214M), The Bourne Supremacy ($292.5M), and The Bourne Ultimatum ($442.8M), all of which were great!
Then came the detour with The Bourne Legacy (2012), which swapped Damon for Jeremy Renner and earned $276.1M globally. Universal course-corrected in 2016 by bringing Damon back for Jason Bourne, which pulled in $415.4M and reminded everyone why he owned the role in the first place.
About a year ago, it was reported that Universal Pictures was developing a new Jason Bourne film, with Edward Berger (Your Honor, All Quiet On the Western Front) in negotiations to helm the movie. That project obviously isn’t going anywhere, now.
Producer Captivate Entertainment, which manages the screen rights for the Ludlum estate, is still involved as potential suitors circle the IP.
Source: Deadline