Latest news with #TheBourneIdentity
The Guardian
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Jason Bourne is coming back – but what do we want from him this time?
What do you consider to be the end of Jason Bourne? For connoisseurs, Bourne's story definitively ended in 2007's The Bourne Ultimatum, which masterfully wrapped up the story that began five years earlier with The Bourne Identity. For the less discerning viewer, it ended with 2016's scraggy and inconsequential Jason Bourne. For the three people who watched the USA Network's 2019 series Treadstone, it ended there. So which is it? Trick question, because Jason Bourne is never actually going to end, ever. This week, NBCUniversal has won a bidding war to acquire all non-publishing rights to Robert Ludlum's Bourne and Treadstone properties in perpetuity. The deal, described as 'very large', means that Bourne is now firmly as much a part of Universal as Jaws, Jurassic World and the Minions. It also means we are never getting rid of him. As the Universal Pictures president, Peter Cramer, said: 'We're energized to continue expanding the Bourne universe into the future with exciting new stories for global audiences.' This is potentially very interesting news, because if any franchise needs a shot in the arm, it's Bourne. While its first three movies are rightly regarded as peerless, things really went off the rails after that. There was 2012's The Bourne Legacy, made without Matt Damon during that weird time where every franchise on Earth seemed to hire Jeremy Renner as its new face. There was 2016's Jason Bourne, where Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon attempted to depict Bourne as a slightly narky nightclub bouncer. And then there was Treadstone, which didn't feature Bourne at all and was canned after a single season. It might have been a wobbly couple of decades for the franchise, but it's important to remember just how revelatory Bourne was at the beginning. As soon as The Bourne Identity landed in 2002, with its grounded, propulsive, parkour-based action, it instantly made every other film in its genre look creaky and ancient. It was released in the same year as Die Another Day and, while Bond outgrossed Bourne two to one, the pure athleticism of the latter made the former – with its phalanx of invisible cars, diamond-faced baddies and shoddy CGI – look ready for the glue factory. Pierce Brosnan was ditched, Daniel Craig was hired and, tellingly, Casino Royale ended up being stuffed to the gills with an absolute Bourneload of parkour. Already there is talk of bringing Matt Damon back into the fold, with Deadline revealing that a script by Joe Barton has been written but not greenlit. And this would be the most sensible avenue, since people automatically equate Bourne with Damon and, thanks to his leading role in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey next year, his stock has rarely been higher. However, he is also in his mid-50s, which puts him squarely in 'Liam Neeson in Taken' territory, which isn't necessarily the best long-term strategy for the franchise. Then again, the character isn't exactly wanting for source material. Although Robert Ludlum wrote three Bourne books before his death in 2001, many, many more have been knocked out by various other writers since then. Maybe there'll be an adaptation of 2009's The Bourne Deception, or 2016's The Bourne Enigma, or this year's The Bourne Vendetta, or next year's The Bourne Revenge. There is now such a glut of Bourne books that perhaps the character needs to be reset with a younger actor to get them all made. One thing to avoid, perhaps, is deepening the mythology too much. Treadstone proved that any appetite the character has for the Bourne franchise begins and ends with the character of Jason Bourne. We're already drowning in watered-down IP, so the thought of sitting through a spin-off property about the madcap adventures of Julia Stiles sounds absolutely exhausting. Most pressing of all, though, is making sure that there is a place for Jason Bourne in the current landscape. Since the peerless original Bourne trilogy ended, James Bond has lived and died and been bought by Jeff Bezos. The MCU burst into life, dominated the market and then slowly asphyxiated on its own bloat. The go-to action blockbuster reference for a long time was Mission: Impossible's maximalist stuntwork, but even that came unstuck in the end. We find ourselves in exactly the place we were at the start of the century. The action world has stagnated, and there is a window for something to come along and revolutionise the game. Jason Bourne already did this once. If he can come out of retirement and do it again, the investment will be more than worth it.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jason Bourne Movies Get Major Update for Matt Damon Series
The Jason Bourne franchise may be readying to return, with Variety reporting that NBCUniversal has acquired all the rights to Robert Ludlum's book series. What's the new Jason Bourne movie update? The deal, according to Variety, will see NBCUniversal gain all rights, excluding publishing, to the book series in perpetuity. Variety's report mentions that this now paves the way for 'new installments' for Matt Damon's Jason Bourne. While no official new movie was announced, it seems like NBCU has big plans for the franchise due to the sum they paid. No official terms were disclosed, but Variety's report notes that the deal came as part of a 'highly competitive bidding situation' that had upwards of seven offers. In the end, NBCU's offer, which is said to be 'a massive nine-figure proposal,' won out. 'Since its debut in 2002, the iconic Bourne franchise has reshaped the spy genre with groundbreaking films that set new standards for cinematic action,' said Universal Pictures president Peter Cramer. 'We're energized to continue expanding the Bourne universe into the future with exciting new stories for global audiences.' The Bourne film series began back in 2002, with The Bourne Identity, directed by Doug Liman and starring Damon in the titular role. The film franchise follows the titular Jason Bourne, a CIA assassin suffering from amnesia, played by Damon. The franchise is based on Ludlum's books, and has produced five films so far, the most recent of which was 2016's Jason Bourne. In total, the Bourne movie franchise is one of the most successful and popular in all of Hollywood. To date, the series has grossed over $1.6 billion, and also helped popularize the more gritty and realistic tones that action thrillers have adopted in the 2000s. (Source: Variety) The post Jason Bourne Movies Get Major Update for Matt Damon Series appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. Solve the daily Crossword
Irish Independent
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Today's top TV and streaming choices: Death in the Desert, The Bourne Identity and The Buccaneers
An Ghig Mhór RTÉ One, 8pm Songwriter and musician Rónán Ó Snodaigh steps up to help five-piece band Leevy from the Múscraí Gaeltacht organise a major gig. In 1979, British nurse Helen Smith was found dead in suspicious circumstances after falling from a balcony in Saudi Arabia. Here, director Keely Winstone uses previously classified government documents to explore whether the truth was covered up at the time. Hell for Leather: The Story of Gaelic Football RTÉ One, 9.35pm The legendary Mick O'Connell takes centre stage this week, expounding his own legacy as well as the future of Gaelic football. Also profiled is Sister Pauline Gibbons, whose pioneering spirit in the 1970s helped pave the way for female stars such as Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Juliet Murphy and Noelle Healy. The Bourne Identity TG4, 9.30pm Smash-hit adaptation of Robert Ludlum's novel, the first in a blockbusting franchise. Matt Damon stars as a mysterious assassin who is suffering from amnesia. Murderer Behind The Mask Prime Video, streaming now True crime isn't just the purview of Netflix, you know, and this Prime Video offering about Elaine O'Hara and Graham Dwyer hits particularly close to home. It highlights how An Garda Síochana meticulously pieced together the truth, turning an overlooked case into one of Ireland's most haunting murder trials. Back in September 2013, the remains of childcare worker O'Hara were discovered in the Dublin mountains. Initially believed to be a suicide, her case took a twisted tangent when fishermen stumbled upon crucial evidence leading to Dwyer, a respected architect who lived in Foxrock with his wife and kids. Beneath his carefully crafted facade lurked a secret life fuelled by a dark stabbing obsession, revealed through his disturbing text exchanges with O'Hara. Over the course of two 45-minute instalments, this Wag Entertainment-produced series purports to uncover how the investigation unfolded and the tragic story behind Elaine's murder. The Waterfront Netflix, streaming now From the makers of Dawson's Creek and Scream, we have this deliciously ridiculous number inspired by true events. It centres on the Buckley family, who have ruled Havenport, North Carolina, for decades. Now, with their patriarch, Harlan (Holt McCallany), recovering from multiple heart attacks (not helped by his predilection for impromptu punching sessions with his son), they resort to drug smuggling courtesy of a surprising face (belonging to Topher Grace). For more glossy, far-fetched US drama, season three of Manifest is now streaming. The Buccaneers AppleTV+, streaming now Apple's answer to Bridgerton (but with bonus Americans) is here with its second season. Exploring the events leading up to the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, this heart-rendering documentary reveals decisions by businesses and government that contributed to the tragedy. Somebody Feed Phil Netflix, streaming now This time, Phil visits Amsterdam, Tbilisi, Sydney, Adelaide, Manila, Vegas, Guatemala, San Sebastián and Boston, while enjoying a spot of bone gnawing with Ray Romano and Brad Garrett along the way. The Many Deaths of Nora Dalmasso Netflix, streaming now
Evening Standard
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Evening Standard
London's most iconic movie locations
Soak up a bit of Sherlock Holmes at St Paul's Cathedral, feel like you're in 28 Days Later or Skyfall as you cruise past Big Ben and see more sites from Mission: Impossible and The Bourne Identity before you head towards your final destination. Want film facts en route? Say 'Hey Alfa' and the ChatGPT voice assistant can tell you more about each movie stop as you drive.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Blake Lively's link to Judge Lewis J Liman's brother revealed after SHOCKING dismissal of Justin Baldoni's $400M lawsuit; netizens call it 'Conflict of interest'
's courtroom victory over has come under the radar after social media users uncovered a past connection between the actress and the brother of federal Judge Lewis J Liman, who dismissed Baldoni's $400 million lawsuit. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now On Monday, Judge Liman of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York dismissed the 'It Ends With Us' director's defamation and extortion lawsuit against Lively, her husband , and The New York Times. Judge Liman ruled that Lively's statements were made within the bounds of legal privilege and could not serve as the basis for a defamation claim. However, shortly after the decision, social media users began circulating a detail that has since gone viral. The viral post claims that the judge is the brother of Hollywood filmmaker , who directed Lively in the past. The post claimed that the actress was a teen when she worked with director Doug in a 2008 pro-Obama campaign ad for The ad also featured Lively's Gossip Girl co-star . 'FUN FACT: the judge that dismissed Justin Baldoni's claims against Blake Lively is Lewis Liman, brother to Doug Liman. Doug and Blake worked together years ago—small world,' wrote one user on X, triggering a wave of commentary and speculation. Some critics questioned a potential conflict of interest, despite the brief and indirect nature of the connection. 'I don't understand how he could preside then. That's a conflict of interest, I'd assume,' one commenter wrote. Others quickly pushed back, arguing that the 2008 collaboration between Lively and Doug Liman—a commercial involving dozens of public figures—hardly constituted grounds for judicial recusal. 'You think this judge would dismiss a lawsuit because Blake did a COMMERCIAL with his brother? Lmfao,' one user replied. Judge Lewis J Liman, a Harvard and Yale Law School graduate, has served on the federal bench since 2019 following a distinguished legal career that included time as a federal prosecutor and appellate division chief. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now His brother Doug has directed major studio films including The Bourne Identity, Swingers, and Edge of Tomorrow. There is no indication at this time of any formal conflict of interest or ethics violation. The judge has not commented on the social media reaction, and legal experts have noted that distant, professional overlaps involving family members are generally not disqualifying—especially when no ongoing or personal relationship exists. Lively celebrated the dismissal on Monday with a public statement, saying, 'I'm more resolved than ever to continue to stand for every woman's right to have a voice in protecting themselves, including their safety, their integrity, their dignity, and their story,' she wrote. The judge, however, said Baldoni could revise the lawsuit if he wanted to pursue different claims related to whether Lively breached or interfered with a contract. His legal team indicated it planned to do so.
