NBCUniversal Secures Rights to ‘Jason Bourne’ with Plans to Expand the Franchise

In a blockbuster move that reshapes the future of one of cinema’s most iconic spy franchises, NBCUniversal has officially acquired all rights—excluding publishing—to Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne and Treadstone book series in perpetuity.

The deal, finalized after a fiercely competitive bidding war, ensures the Bourne universe will remain under the Universal umbrella, opening the door for new films, television projects, and cross-platform storytelling. Earlier this year, the Ludlum estate reclaimed the rights and initiated an auction led by WME. The process attracted seven major offers, including bids from streaming giants and rival studios. Ultimately, Universal matched the top proposal with what insiders describe as a “very large deal,” securing the franchise’s future at its longtime home. Since its cinematic debut in 2002 with The Bourne Identity, the franchise has redefined the spy genre with its gritty realism and kinetic action.

Matt Damon’s portrayal of the amnesiac operative Jason Bourne, coupled with direction from Doug Liman and Paul Greengrass, set a new standard for espionage thrillers. The series has spawned five films, grossing over $1.64 billion globally, and includes a spinoff (The Bourne Legacy starring Jeremy Renner), a short-lived TV series (Treadstone), and even a theme park attraction (The Bourne Stuntacular) at Universal Studios Orlando. With the rights secured, Universal is already laying groundwork for future installments. Producer Frank Marshall, who has been with the franchise since its inception, will continue to oversee development alongside Captivate Entertainment’s Jeffrey Weiner and Ben Smith. A new film is reportedly in development with director Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front) and a script by Joe Barton. While not yet greenlit, speculation is swirling about Matt Damon’s potential return to the role that made him a global star.

NBCUniversal plans to leverage the Bourne IP across its vast media ecosystem, including film, television, streaming, and interactive experiences. “We’re energized to continue expanding the Bourne universe into the future with exciting new stories for global audiences,” said Peter Cramer, President of Universal Pictures. Jeffrey Weiner, executor of Ludlum’s estate, echoed the sentiment: “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”.

Via Deadline