Huge success of movies based on his books convinces Ludlum to come back to life

A report in Variety notes that “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.” Variety reports that the deal was spurred by the more than $1 billion dollars earned by three Matt Damon films made based on the Bourne character.

What the report doesn’t note is that, well, Ludlum has been dead for seven years. As MobyLives goes to press, it remains unclear how he will be able to live up to the terms of the announced agreement.

Dennis Johnson is the founder of MobyLives, and the co-founder and co-publisher of Melville House.

http://gruyere.livejournal.com Seth Christenfeld

The same way he’s continued to put out a book or two every year since he dies anyway–through the help of Eric Van Lustbader and other ghostwriters (Lustbader being the only one officially credited, it seems).
http://gruyere.livejournal.com Seth Christenfeld

The same way he’s continued to put out a book or two every year since he dies anyway–through the help of Eric Van Lustbader and other ghostwriters (Lustbader being the only one officially credited, it seems).

Melville House Books

Best Sellers

November 24, 2008