Matt Damon as Jason Bourne in 2016’s ‘Jason Bourne’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Preview:
- The ‘Jason Bourne’ novel rights are available again.
- Skydance and Netflix are among the interested parties.
- And in a separate development, the rights to ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ horror concept are also up for grabs.
At a time when the James Bond franchise is at a real creative crossroads and under new direction from Amazon/MGM, another popular espionage/assassination movie series is seeing its source material hit the auction block.
The Hollywood Reporter brings word that the Robert Ludlum library, which comprises the rights to Jason Bourne and his other creations, is being offered up by agency WME on behalf of the late author’s estate.
It’s something of a surprise, since Universal has had the rights for years, producing several movies starring Matt Damon and at least one spin-off (more on that below).
Yet things have been noticeably quiet on the ‘Bourne’ front of late, even though Universal looked to develop a fresh take with ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ and ‘Conclave’ director Edward Berger, so now it appears the studio is turning the character loose.
Related Article: Jason Bourne: ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ Director Edward Berger Developing New Movie
What’s the history of the ‘Bourne’ movies?
Matt Damon as Jason Bourne in ‘The Bourne Ultimatum.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.
Jason Bourne sprung from the mind of Ludlum, who published ‘The Bourne Identity’ novel in 1980.
Two decades later, star Damon and director Doug Liman introduced him to the big screen with 2002’s eponymous first film.
“He was the perfect weapon until he became the target.”
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1 hr 59 minJun 14th, 2002
The movie, coming a few years before Daniel Craig’s grounded reinvention of James Bond with ‘Casino Royale,’ ushered in a new era of spy movies that gritty favored realism rather than high-tech gadgets.
‘Identity’ spawned two sequels based on Ludlum’s books, ‘The Bourne Ultimatum’ (2004) and ‘The Bourne Supremacy’ (2007), both directed by Paul Greengrass.
Universal extended the franchise with Jeremy Renner playing a different character in 2012’s ‘The Bourne Legacy,’ but it didn’t work out as well.
Damon and Greengrass returned a few years later with 2016’s ‘Jason Bourne,’ which earned $415 million globally.
Who could pick up the ‘Bourne’ rights?
Matt Damon as Jason Bourne in 2016’s ‘Jason Bourne’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Per the Reporter’s story, Skydance, Apple and Netflix are said to have met with the estate for the rights.
And let’s not completely count out Universal, which could potentially win the rights back if it made an attractive bid.
As for whether Damon might return as Bourne, we’d cast our doubts as he may well be done with the character, and whoever nabs the rights is likely going to go the reboot route. But never say never!
Bourne, however, isn’t the only property hitting the market, as one of horror’s most famous icons is also up for grabs right now… Step (or lumber, wielding a power tool) forward ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.’
What’s the history of ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’?
1974’s ‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’. Photo: Bryanston Distributing Company.
Conceived by Tobe Hooper and Kim Henkel and directed by Hooper, the original project was inspired by serial killers like Ed Gein and Elmer Wayne Henley.
The 1974 movie was stitched together by a variety of funding sources (which ended up causing disagreements between rights holders) by Hooper, who made the feature about a killer, named Leatherface, who uses his chainsaw to go on a cannibalistic killing spree, for $140,000 (not adjusted for inflation), shooting the movie in the rural Texas countryside with unknown actors in 95 degree-plus heat.
In 1983, New Line Cinema acquired distribution rights. The entire franchise would go on to count nine movies in total, grossing north of $252 million at the worldwide box office, spawning comics, a novel and two video game adaptations.
The franchise was also responsible for launching marquee stars: the 1994 sequel, ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation,’ starred a very early-days Matthew McConaughey and Renée Zellweger.
“If looks could kill, he wouldn’t need a chainsaw.”
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1 hr 27 minSep 22nd, 1995
New Line launched a 2003 remake directed by German filmmaker Marcus Nispel with Michael Bay producing and pre-‘Quiet Place’ Andrew Form and Brad Fuller executive producing.
Starring Jessica Biel just as she was segueing from TV to the big screen, it remains the highest-grossing installment at $107 million. That version was shot by the director of photography of the 1974 film, Daniel Pearl.
The most recent take was the 2022 Netflix release, starring Elsie Fisher and Jacob Latimore, and directed by David Blue Garcia.
What’s happening with ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’?
Mark Burnham as Leatherface in Netflix’s ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre.’ Photo: Netflix.
Currently, according to Deadline, the agency known as Verve has the rights, having scooped them up in 2017 and now about to offer them up to interested parties.
As the company’s statement to the trade site reads:
“Verve represents ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ estate and is building out a multimedia strategy for the seminal horror franchise. Verve has not officially submitted the property into any filmmakers, producers or buyers. Because this is such a hot and iconic horror property, packages are pre-emptively being brought to Verve.”
Among those looking to pick up the rights are apparently filmmaker/scribe JT Mollner and producer Roy Lee, hot off ‘Strange Darling,’ their $3 million-grossing, 96% certified Rotten Tomatoes cult hit.
If Mollner gets a script together, word per Deadline is that Glen Powell would like to read it. It’s very early days on this; no contracts or attachments as of yet, and the Mollner/Powell combo is but one interested party of many.
Who else? Try Lionsgate and A24, which have both seen success with horror. And we’d be surprised if Neon, which released ‘Longlegs’ and ‘The Monkey’ didn’t also consider this one.
It’s early days, but we don’t expect to wait too long before hearing the roar of the chainsaw again.
Matt Damon as Jason Bourne in ‘The Bourne Ultimatum.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.
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