It seems that Jason Bourne has found a permanent home at Universal, as has the rest of the works by Bourne creator, the late Robert Ludlum. According to Variety, Universal has come to an agreement with the estate of late author Robert Ludlum, that gives the studio exclusive rights to the Jason Bourne character Ludlum created in his novels, plus first-look rights to the rest of his novels not dealing with Bourne.

Although Ludlum only penned three books in the series - The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum - the studio is still moving forward with the franchise, securing Bourne portrayer Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass to helm a fourth film installment, which is being written by The Bourne Ultimatum co-writer George Nolfi.

"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," said Jeffrey Weiner, Ludlum Entertainment CEO, who oversees the late author's estate and the company that handles adaptations of Ludlum's work.

While other Ludlum novels are set for adaptation elsewhere - including the Denzel Washington vehicle The Matarese Circle at MGM and Relativity, The Chancellor Manuscript for Leonoardo DiCaprio at Paramount and The Osterman Weekend for Simon Kinberg to write and direct at Summit Entertainment - this new deal gives Universal exclusive access to Ludlum's library, which includes 25 other novels that haven't been previously adapted.