USA Network gives series order to Jason Bourne spin-off series Treadstone

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Earlier this year it was reported that USA Network was developing a Jason Bourne spin-off series titled Treadstone, and it seems that development has gone very well indeed as the network has now ordered the drama straight to series. Treadstone will center around the fictional CIA black ops program Operation Treadstone, the program which created Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) in the feature-film series. Using behaviour modification protocols, the covert program is able to turn recruits into highly skilled assassins, and the first season of Treadstone will follow several sleeper agents across the world as they're mysteriously awakened in order to resume their deadly missions.

"As the #1 cable entertainment network for the past 12 years, USA Network is delivering a dynamic lineup of big, bold programming – and what could be bigger and bolder than the Treadstone mythology?" said Chris McCumber, president of entertainment networks for NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. Production on the series is expected to kick off in 2019. Tim Kring (Heroes) will write the project as well as serve as executive producer, as will Ramin Bahrani (FAHRENHEIT 451), who will be directing the pilot. I wish I could get excited about Treadstone, but the whole concept of superhuman secret agents and clandestine government programs is something we've seen so many times before. That said, it's possible that Kring and Bahrani could craft something compelling and exciting, but I'd have a little more faith if Paul Greengrass and/or Matt Damon were involved in some form.

Speaking of Matt Damon, the actor commented last year on the unenthusiastic reaction which JASON BOURNE received, admitting that "This last one didn’t do as well as the one we did 10 years ago, so maybe people are done with the character." Despite the mediocre reviews, JASON BOURNE was a box-office success, which, as we know, is more of a deciding factor in regards to sequels than reviews are. Matt Damon believes "everybody is leaving the door open, as we did at the end of this movie, in hopes that we can come up with an intriguing story for the next one," before adding that "it would have to be a pretty incredible story to get us all back on the horse."

What are your thoughts on Treadstone? Are you up a Matt Damon-less Jason Bourne series?