Netflix And Apple In Talks For Jason Bourne Franchise

Jason Bourne might return to the big screen or be released on streaming platforms, depending on its new home. At least two streaming companies are reportedly interested in securing the rights to the franchise.

The Jason Bourne franchise is a series of action-thriller films based on Robert Ludlum’s book series of the same name. The franchise broadly follows the titular former CIA assassin suffering from amnesia and seeking to uncover his true identity. There have been five movies released over nearly two decades — The Bourne Identity (2002), The Bourne Supremacy (2004), The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), The Bourne Legacy (2012), and Jason Bourne (2016). Matt Damon portrays Jason Bourne in all but the fourth movie. The Bourne Legacy features Hawkeye star Jeremy Renner as Aaron Cross, another agent affected by the CIA’s covert program. It has been nearly 10 years since the franchise dropped its latest film, but there could be significant progress in a new project once the series finds a new home.

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Universal Pictures had the rights to the Bourne franchise but reportedly lost it on March 20, 2025. Netflix and Apple are apparently interested in taking over the franchise after Universal’s rights lapsed. Skydance Media, the American media company currently looking at a merger with Paramount, is also eyeing Jason Bourne, according to The Hollywood Reporter. But there’s also a chance Universal could regain the rights if it makes an attractive bid. With this much interest, it’s clear each company has plans to expand or reboot the franchise. If Netflix or Apple acquires the rights to the Jason Bourne franchise, it could head to streaming platforms. In contrast, if Skydance obtains the rights or Universal re-acquires them, Jason Bourne will most likely continue its cinematic tradition.

Jason Bourne Is Seemingly Set To Return In The Future In Some Form Or Fashion

Will The Real Jason Bourne Please Stand Up?

The Jason Bourne franchise is generally well-received both critically and commercially. Many praised the series for reinvigorating the spy genre with a realistic approach. Among the five movies, The Bourne Ultimatum is the most successful, grossing $227 million domestically and $444 million worldwide. In addition, the film received 42 nominations from various award bodies and won 29, including three Academy Awards in 2008 — Best Achievement in Film Editing, Best Achievement in Sound Mixing, and Best Achievement in Sound Editing. Whichever company wins the right to distribute the films from the Jason Bourne franchise has a huge opportunity to explore as more than twenty Bourne books have been written since 1980.

The Jason Bourne franchise is known for its action sequences and intricate espionage. Damon being the face of the franchise is an additional factor. The Air star said when he appeared on The Late Show in February 2024 that he was eager to return to Ludlum’s franchise again. According to him, director Edward Berger had a “wonderful” idea for a potential sixth movie, and Damon stated he wanted to work with him on it. At the same time, the actor acknowledged that someone younger had to replace him eventually because he was already in his 50s.

Damon’s words are an indication of a potential reboot. Damon could make a grand return to the franchise in the next movie and set it for a complete reboot with a new lead. However, it all depends on who will acquire the rights. If Netflix or Apple take over, they could go the television series route that allows for a deeper exploration of Bourne’s past. This approach will give them more time to develop the character arcs and complex espionage plots. However, there’s a risk that this might fail to keep up the fast-paced action that defines the Bourne movies. Regardless, the franchise’s future is bright, and there’s still interest in it. Hopefully, fans will see the next Bourne project somewhat soon.

Jason Bourne movies are available for rent or purchase on Apple TV and Amazon Prime.

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Source: The Hollywood Reporter