The Bourne franchise could be set for a new home - and a potential reboot - after leaving Universal nine years after its last big-screen installment, with new bidders in talks to acquire the rights. The Bourne movie franchise began life in 2002 with The Bourne Identity, which starred Matt Damon as the titular spy with psychogenic amnesia. The movie was a box office success and spawned a franchise, with four sequels and a TV show, but another Bourne film has not materialized, with the last installment being 2016’s Jason Bourne.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, WME - on behalf of the estate of author Robert Ludlum, who penned the successful novel series - is shopping the rights to the franchise. Apple and Netflix, as well as Skydance, are all said to have met with the estate, and Universal itself could even win back the rights, with the possibility of a franchise reboot in play. According to the report, there's no word yet on whether Damon would be involved in any future project.

What This Means For The Future Of The Bourne Franchise

This Is An Influential Franchise That Could Enjoy Enduring Popularity

The move to acquire the Bourne rights comes after Amazon took control of the James Bond IP, and illustrates the current clamor for strong content among streaming platforms. The Bourne movies have enjoyed a successful legacy across five movies, and the TV spinoff Treadstone, with plenty of creative directions the franchise could go in the future. The Bourne movies have grossed over $1.6 billion to date and have proven highly influential on modern action movies.

While the Bourne movies may not be as iconic as the James Bond franchise, and may lack the ingenuity of the Mission: Impossible films, as mid-budget spy thrillers go, they have proven hugely successful and impactful on the action genre. The franchise can almost certainly find success wherever it is picked up, and the option would exist for either a reboot or even a continuation of the series. It is unclear who might be involved, and there's even the chance that Jeremy Renner's Aaron Cross could return to the franchise after heading up 2012's The Bourne Legacy.

Our Verdict On Jason Bourne’s New Home

The Franchise Should Thrive On Streaming

While theatrical releases are still an important part of the movie industry, the shift toward streaming has been undeniable. While Bourne’s future could be on the big screen, direct to streaming feels like the most probable play here. It would mean the existing movies would get a run on streaming, and audiences could reconnect with Damon as Jason Bourne, paving the way for new productions, even if the Oscar winner isn't involved. There would also be scope for branching out into TV shows and spinoffs as well, which would suggest an exciting future for the Bourne franchise.

Source: THR