Universal Pictures has joined forces with screenwriter James Vanderbilt (Zodiac, White House Down, The Amazing Spider-Man), Mythology Entertainment, and Captivate Entertainment to build a new cinematic universe based on the novels of the late Robert Ludlum, best known for his Jason Bourne series.

Loading

Their first project will be an adaptation of Ludlum’s The Janson Directive , featuring Dwayne Johnson, according to The Hollywood Reporter The Janson Directive is an espionage thriller about an ex-Navy SEAL and highly sought-after corporate security consultant called Paul Janson, who is framed for the murder of a billionaire Nobel Peace Laureate and must uncover the truth while staying out of the crosshairs of his former colleagues.Vanderbilt will pen two more treatments based on Ludlum books which will also slot into this new universe, although it’s not known at this stage what stories they’ll be based on, how they’ll crossover with each other, or indeed how Dwayne Johnson’s character will be incorporated into future films.It’s also not described whether the existing Bourne films will be referenced within or factored into the new Robert Ludlum cinematic universe. The next Bourne film, Jason Bourne, will hit cinemas on July 28, 2016 in the UK and Australia, and July 29 in North America.Robert Ludlum wrote 27 thrillers before his death in 2001. Several of his non-Bourne novels have been adapted into films in the past, including The Osterman Weekend (directed by Sam Peckinpah) and The Holcroft Covenant (directed by John Frankenheimer).

Luke is Games Editor at IGN's Sydney office. You can find him on Twitter