After the first three films grossed a total of more than $1 billion worldwide, Universal Pictures has made an overall deal with the estate of “The Bourne Identity” author Robert Ludlum that gives the studio exclusive rights to the Jason Bourne character and first look at other Ludlum novels. Universal has already signed Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass for a fourth film that George Nolfi is writing. Produced by Frank Marshall and Ludlum Entertainment chairman-CEO Jeffrey Weiner, the film will be readied for a summer 2010 release.
“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. Weiner was the author’s accountant for 16 years before being tapped by Ludlum to be estate executor and to run the holding company that produces his movies and publishes his books and videogames.
The deal with Ludlum Entertainment paves the way for more installments in the Bourne saga, which was originally envisioned as a three-picture series but has become Universal’s answer to James Bond.
Universal is developing another Ludlum book, “The Sigma Protocol,” with Strike Entertainment partners Marc Abraham and Eric Newman. Summit Entertainment has “The Osterman Weekend,” with Simon Kinberg set to write and direct.
And there are plenty more where those came from. Ludlum titles routinely turn into seven-figure packages, including the $4 million Paramount paid for “The Chancellor Manuscript” in 2005, with Leonardo DiCaprio attached to star and produce with Red Wagon. “There is a deep Ludlum library. Over 25 of his novels have never been exploited in movies,” Weiner said. He recalled that Ludlum watched a couple of his titles get turned into movies during the early 1980s, and he was underwhelmed by the result. The author died while “The Bourne Identity” was in production. Now, the estate has contractual approval not only on screenplays but also on characters and even actors, Weiner said.
Universal did miss out on “The Matarese Circle” when that Ludlum Cold War thriller was shopped last April, with Denzel Washington attached along with “Wanted” scribes Michael Brandt and Derek Haas. MGM won the auction; they’ve set David Cronenberg to direct a film expected to begin production next year.
First Ricky Martin announced that he's the father of 
BFFs Matt Damon and Ben Affleck reunited in Miami yesterday for an event in support of the presumptive Democratic nominee, Barack Obama.
Although the Afflecks previously held a fundraiser in Boston for Obama, I'm sure they were more than happy to jet to Miami to attend this event with Matt and Luciana before their newest baby arrives!
var x17video_id = "jgarner080108.mp4";
Course, they didn't seem too happy when they were leaving LAX Friday, but I guess traveling is stressful enough without all the cameras flashing!
Celebrities endorsing a candidate certainly hasn't made much of a difference in the past, but since Obama is apparently the biggest celebrity on the planet (according to a McCain ad), it probably can't hurt!
Although I frequently like to play "fat or preggers?" with people I spot on the street, I think it's pretty obvious that Matt Damon's wife Luciana Barrroso is the latter.
But, just in case you couldn't tell, she's wearing an adorable "[bump]" shirt that reads "baby under manufacturing process."
Awwwww!
She certainly looks happy...
But then again if you were f*cking Matt Damon, you'd probably be pretty pleased, too!
Who ISN'T pregnant these days, geez!
I guess having a bambino on the way is the best Father's Day gift for Matt Damon.
He and his wife Luciana dined at Dan Tana's last night. Pregnancy looks good on Luciana!
What'll be the Bourne Identity of the couple's baby-to-be -- boy or girl?
We caught a glimpse of Matt Damon walking around on the set of The Informant - or, more accurately, we caught a glimpse of the awesome 70s-style moustache Matt wears in the flick. Seriously, how great is that thing? He could pass for a seventies porn star!
Is that a caterpillar on your lip, Mr. Damon?
This picture's even better if you imagine music going bow-chicka-wow-wow in the background
