Collectively, the Jason Bourne film franchise has grossed over $1.2 billion worldwide, which is probably why a cinematic universe is in the works based on author Robert Ludlum's non-Bourne novels.
THR has learned that Universal has joined forces with screenwriter James Vanderbilt (ZODIAC, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN), Mythology Entertainment's Brad Fischer and William Sherak, and Ben Smith and Jeffrey Weiner of Captivate Entertainment to develop a series of films based on the works of Ludlum.
The first installment of the planned movie universe will be THE JANSON DIRECTIVE starring Dwayne Johnson, and Vanderbilt is adapting Ludlum's novel of the same name for the screen from a story co-authored with Akiva Goldsman. The book centers on Paul Janson, "a former operative who is now the best private security consultant in the world. The action begins when he is framed for the murder of a prominent Nobel laureate and must join forces with the protege sent to kill him in order to survive." At the moment, it's not clear if Johnson's Janson will appear in any of the other movies.
Universal is also looking to to bring Ludlum's The Parsifal Mosaic, The Sigma Protocol and Covert One to the big screen, while Vanderbilt will "co-author two more stories/treatments based on the Ludlum books, which have not been named, giving shape to the action universe." What are your thoughts on a Robert Ludlum cinematic universe?
Johnson is currently filming for Seth Gordon's BAYWATCH, and the actor can be seen next starring alongside Kevin Hart in CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE, which hits theaters on June 17, 2016.