Universal Pictures has reached an agreement with Robert Ludlum's estate "that gives the studio exclusive rights to the Jason Bourne character and first look at other Ludlum novels," Variety reported. "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." The first three Bourne movies grossed more than $1 billion worldwide, and a fourth is scheduled for summer release in 2010.
"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," said Ludlum Entertainment chairman-CEO Jeffrey Weiner, who had been the author's accountant for 16 years. "There is a deep Ludlum library. Over 25 of his novels have never been exploited in movies."