After a heated bidding war, Universal Pictures has officially locked down the film and television rights to the Jason Bourne franchise “in perpetuity,” giving the studio indefinite control over the property.
Netflix, Apple, and a third unnamed studio were said to be very interested in the Bourne rights but Universal won out in the end.
Finalized a few days ago, the deal represents a major win for Universal.
In a press statement, Universal Pictures President Peter Cramer shared, "The Bourne franchise reshaped the spy genre with groundbreaking action films. We’re energized to expand this universe with new stories for global audiences."
Jeffrey Weiner, chairman and CEO of Captivate Entertainment and the 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."
The rights had recently reverted to the estate of author Robert Ludlum, sparking fierce competition among studios and streamers. With this agreement, Universal reclaims ownership of one of its most successful spy-action brands.
Universal had released all the previous Bourne films through a distribution deal, however the rights lapsed and returned back to Robet Ludlum's estate after no new projects since 2016's Jason Bourne.
The deal not only ensures the continuation of the film series but also opens the door for TV shows, animated adaptations, and other media within the Bourne universe.
As studios increasingly chase valuable IP to power their streaming platforms and theatrical lineups, this acquisition secures a reliable cornerstone for Universal. For fans, it means Jason Bourne’s legacy as the troubled super-spy will remain front and center in the studio’s plans for years to come.
The Bourne movies trace their origins back to Robert Ludlum’s spy novels from the 1980s. While the first three films borrow their titles from Ludlum's books with The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, and The Bourne Ultimatum, their storylines diverge heavily from Ludlum’s original plots.
Following Robert Ludlum’s passing, the Bourne book series lived on through new authors such as Eric Van Lustbader and Brian Freeman, who expanded the franchise with numerous additional novels.
Matt Damon has portrayed Jason Bourne in four of the franchise’s five films. The exception is The Bourne Legacy (2012), which starred Jeremy Renner as Aaron Cross, a new operative from a separate black-ops program. That film’s storyline unfolds alongside the events of the original trilogy.
It's thought that neither Damon or Renner will be involved in the next set of Bourne-centered projects.