Denzel does Ludlum

Robert Ludlum’s work has proved to be a force in Hollywood with the BOURNE franchise raking in mad cash ($900 million worldwide). Looking to capitalize on some of that success a new Ludlum property is making the rounds in Hollywood. Denzel Washington is attached to star in adaptation of the Ludlum novel THE MATARESE CIRCLE with Michael Brandt and Derek Haas (3:10 TO YUMA) working on the script. The film would star Washington as CIA agent Bradley Socfield who must team up with his sworn enemy, KGB agent Vasili Taleniekov, to stop an international circle of killers called The Matarese. So far no studio has stepped up to buy the pitch but according to Variety, several are “keenly interested.” Some of the appeal may be that MATARESE is the only of Ludlum’s books other than the BOURNE series that has more than one installment. That could mean a franchise like BOURNE that is closing in on $1 billion, which is just insane. Washington is currently filming THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123 for director Tony Scott and has yet to decide on his next project.