The rights to Matt Damon’s ‘Jason Bourne’ franchise are up for sale

Posted On March 21, 2025March 21, 2025

The rights to Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne superspy franchise are up for sale. WME is currently selling the rights to the franchise on behalf of the late author Robert Ludlum’s estate. 

WME have confirmed that they would like to sell the franchise and make the spy a more regular onscreen presence. He last appeared on people’s TV screens almost a decade ago, which seems a shame given how much source material there is which can inspire stories and how much of an iconic character the superspy is.

If the sale is confirmed, it is yet to be agreed whether Damon will reprise his role as the iconic spy. The purchaser may be keen on a complete rework of the series. 

There are many potential buyers interested in the rights to Jason Bourne. Skydance, Netflix, and Apple are all said to have met with the estate to discuss selling the rights. Universal is also potentially looking to win the rights back if an attractive enough bid is made. 

Jason Bourne is the creation of novelist Ludlum, who published the book The Bourne Identity in 1980. The novel was made into a film two decades later, and Matt Damon starred in the classic film of the same name. Director Doug Liman introduced the character to the big screen, and Jason Bourne has been an iconic spy ever since. 

The Bourne Identity wasn’t just a good spy film; it ushered in a new era for these kinds of movies, which saw them take a more realistic and gritty approach to these wild stories.

Two sequels were created, each based on novels by Ludlum: The Bourne Ultimatum and The Bourne Supremacy. Some other iterations of the series have been made since, with Matt Damon occasionally reprising his role, but the franchise has been at a standstill for almost a decade.

News of who will successfully acquire the rights to Jason Bourne will follow shortly, and the ramifications of the purchase will be interesting.

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