With EA securing the rights to Jason Bourne in the videogame world, Ludlum CEO Jeffrey Weiner says it’s a ”much better position”.
Keith Boesky, an independent rep for Ludlum, said EA had the ”strongest, had the best take” on Bourne, and they know how to ”grow the IP” he added. Can EA get Matt Damon?
”…when Activision decided to terminate the license we reached out to him because we like John and it’s a great company,” said Weiner, speaking of EA’s John Riccitiello. ”We feel we’re in a much better position now.”
”EA came in the strongest, had the best take on the property, and they know how to grow the IP and have unquestioned worldwide market reach,” Boesky said. ”We’re dealing with grown ups now.”
There’s ten years on the deal’s clock before it could change hands again, but with Activision pumping more into the James Bond license it is likely EA will want to use Bourne indefinitely.
Vivendi couldn’t land Matt Damon’s likeness or voice work for ‘The Bourne Conspiracy’, which didn’t do too well commercially. Could EA convince Damon though? He did say at the time he wouldn’t appear in a violent videogame, despite being the lead in a violent movie… that’s Hollywood logic for you.
Source: Variety
