‘Bourne’ will be Kicking ass at Universal for a Long Time

Looks as though we can expect plenty more bond films from Universal. Seems that the powerhouse studio has picked up the rights to the character and more book from Ludlum’s estate. We’ve already got a fourth film that’s being written right now. How many more can we expect? And, how will those compare to the first three that took the world by storm? Read on for some more details.

Universal Pictures has made an overall deal with the estate of ”The Bourne Identity”author Robert Ludlum that gives the studio exclusive rights to the Jason Bourne character and first look at other Ludlum novels.

The deal with Ludlum Entertainment paves the way for more installments in the Bourne saga, which was originally envisioned as a three-picture series but has become Universal’s answer to James Bond.

After the first three films grossed a total of more than $1 billion worldwide, U signedMatt Damon and director Paul Greengrass for a fourth film that George Nolfi is penning. Produced by Frank Marshall and Ludlum Entertainment chairman-CEOJeffrey Weiner, the film will be readied for a summer 2010 release.

Weiner will take offices on the Universal lot as part of the deal and hire development executives as the company takes an active hand in developing projects, including some not based on books by Ludlum. Weiner was the author’s accountant for 16 years before being tapped by Ludlum to be estate executor and to run the holding company that produces his movies and publishes his books and videogames.

“Universal has done such an excellent job with the first three films that they deserve the opportunity to keep Jason Bourne at the studio forever,” Weiner told Daily Variety.

 

Well, I’m all for bringing more of the Bourne books to life on the big screen, but I’m always a bit worried when anyone goes off and tries to just write a random screenplay based on the characters. Only time can tell as we’ll surely be seeing several more films in the series, over the next few years.