Bourne rights return to Universal

NBCUniversal secures all rights to the Jason Bourne and Treadstone books excluding publishing, signaling a renewed push to expand the franchise.

Bourne Rights Return to Universal

NBCUniversal has acquired all rights excluding publishing to the Jason Bourne and Treadstone book series in perpetuity after a competitive auction that drew seven offers. The Ludlum estate briefly pulled rights from Universal earlier this year before the sale and WME represented Captivate Entertainment in the process. The deal places Bourne under the NBCUniversal umbrella for films and cross medium ventures across games and live experiences.

Universal plans a cross platform push with producer Frank Marshall continuing to shepherd future installments. Ed Berger is set to develop a new Bourne film with Matt Damon potentially returning, with a script by Joe Barton and the project not yet greenlit. The move also keeps Bourne in house for a longer horizon, allowing tighter coordination across Universal’s film, game and theme park divisions.

The announcement also notes Bourne tied franchises across NBCUniversal with video games and a Bourne Stuntactular at Universal Studios Orlando, highlighting a strategy to monetize legacy IP through multiple channels while exploring new storytelling avenues.

This deal shows how studios chase certainty in a crowded media market by locking in proven IP. Keeping Bourne within Universal’s orbit reduces licensing risk and aligns films games and live experiences under one plan.

Yet long term bets on legacy franchises carry risk. Creative energy may wane if new projects stall, and fans expect fresh plots that respect the original thrill. Damon’s possible return would boost attention but remains contingent on development realities.

Highlights

The Bourne chapter continues to evolve in public view.