MOVIE NEWS – We may be on the verge of witnessing the return of a $1.665 billion action and spy franchise, as Universal Pictures now holds full cinematic rights to the Jason Bourne saga. The big question remains: when and how will Matt Damon’s iconic character return—if at all?

It’s surprising that while franchises dominate Hollywood and action films thrive—just look at John Wick or Jason Statham‘s ongoing success—Jason Bourne has been absent from the big screen for nearly a decade. That may change soon: Universal Pictures has acquired perpetual film rights to Robert Ludlum’s literary series (excluding publishing rights), with plans to revive the brand.

“Since its debut in 2002, the Jason Bourne saga has redefined the espionage genre with groundbreaking films that set new standards for cinematic action,” said Peter Cramer, president of Universal Pictures. “We’re excited to continue expanding its universe in the future with new and interesting stories for global audiences.” No further details were provided for now.

Over twenty novels to draw inspiration from

The franchise began in 1980 with Robert Ludlum’s novel The Bourne Identity, followed by The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum. After Ludlum’s death in 2001, Eric Van Lustbader picked up the mantle, penning over twenty additional novels. Joshua Hood later added the Treadstone novels, also published under Ludlum’s name. It’s a rich universe full of espionage and action just waiting to be explored.

On the big screen, it all started with The Bourne Identity in 2002, praised for its gritty and realistic take on spy action, a stark contrast to the era’s James Bond films. The success spawned three more Matt Damon-led sequels and a spin-off starring Jeremy Renner that failed to take off. The same happened with the Treadstone TV series, canceled after just one season.

In the age of streaming, where shows like Jack Ryan and Reacher thrive on Prime Video, the Jason Bourne universe could easily find a second life online. So far, Universal hasn’t shared specifics—only a clear desire to capitalize on a franchise that’s already grossed over $1.665 billion at the box office and almost slipped out of their hands earlier this year.

Jason Bourne’s return may be closer than ever: Universal now holds the film rights permanently. While details are scarce, the franchise has more than 20 novels to pull from. The only question is when this spy legend makes his comeback.

Source: 3djuegos