Universal may go back to Ludlum after all for BOURNE IV?

Last we heard, Universal were planning to move forward with a fourth BOURNE movie based on an original screenplay and story from George Nolfi, one of the co-writers on the last movie. But today's Variety hints that coming up with an original story may not be going so well because the studio have just paid big bucks to acquire all the novels in the BOURNE series exclusively for them to adapt. The only novels yet adapted for screen are Eric Van Lustbader's trilogyThe Bourne Legacy (2004), The Bourne Betrayal (2007) and this year's The Bourne Sanction (2008). Universal have also nabbed the first look rights at every novel Robert Ludlum ever wrote that has yet been adapted, which totals to around 25 novels. Both Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass have already signed on for a new movie in the $1 billion franchise which Universal are fast tracking for a release in about 20 months time.

"Universal has done such an excellent job with the first three films that they deserve the opportunity to keep Jason Bourne at the studio forever," Weiner told Daily Variety.

Another reason for the deal is that MGM And Relativity Media this year won the rights against Universal for the rights to THE MATARESE CIRCLE, a Ludlum thriller which now has Denzel Washington attached and is expected to be directed by David Cronenberg next year. Universal were pissed at this and don't want to allow any future Ludlum novel to get away from them.