(Image: Universal Pictures)
The "Bourne" franchise, starring Matt Damon, has been gearing up for a sixth installment in recent years, with "Conclave" director Edward Berger in talks to helm the project. It was even rumored that the film had already been titled "The Bourne Dilemma." However, The Hollywood Reporter (THR) exclusively revealed today that the rights to the popular series are set to leave Universal Pictures.
(Image: Universal Pictures)
According to the report, the prominent talent agency WME is handling the sale of the rights to all works by "Bourne's" original author, Robert Ludlum, which includes the iconic spy series. The goal is to find a new home for the "Bourne" franchise and bring protagonist Jason Bourne back to the big (or small) screen more frequently.
THR notes that Skydance, Apple, and Netflix are already in discussions with the Ludlum estate to acquire the rights. However, Universal Pictures still has a chance to buy them back if it presents a sufficiently attractive offer. The fate of the planned sixth film and whether Damon will return to the role is now uncertain. A move to a new studio could very well lead to a complete reboot of the franchise, with a new actor stepping into Bourne's shoes.