The Janson Directive is a film adaptation that was announced in September 2014, but hasn’t progressed much further in the intervening period. Until now, it was most notable for being yet another movie with franchise potential to be stacked on the slate of the increasingly busy Dwayne Johnson. Universal just turned up the heat on the project, however, by detailing how it will become the foundation of a brand new cinematic universe.
The book from which The Janson Directive will be adapted is by legendary author Robert Ludlum – who also created the Jason Bourne series. According to the book synopsis, there are also vast similarities between the Bourne and Janson tales.
“When billionaire philanthropist Peter Novak is kidnapped by a terrorist known as The Caliph, it’s up to Paul Janson — a legend in the notorious U.S. covert agency Consular Operations — to save him. But Janson’s rescue operation goes horribly wrong…...
The book from which The Janson Directive will be adapted is by legendary author Robert Ludlum – who also created the Jason Bourne series. According to the book synopsis, there are also vast similarities between the Bourne and Janson tales.
“When billionaire philanthropist Peter Novak is kidnapped by a terrorist known as The Caliph, it’s up to Paul Janson — a legend in the notorious U.S. covert agency Consular Operations — to save him. But Janson’s rescue operation goes horribly wrong…...
- 5/19/2016
- by Sarah Myles
- We Got This Covered
Dwayne Johnson definitely keeps himself busy making movies. They guy is filling up his schedule with a ton of film projects, and he just added a whole new franchise on his list of movies to make.
He has teamed up with Universal Pictures and screenwriter James Vanderbilt (Zodiac, Spider-Man 2) to develop a cinematic universe built around Robert Ludlum's spy novels, and it will start with The Janson Directive, which Johnson is set to star in. Some of the other books that will be included in the franchise include The Parsifal Mosaic, The Sigma Protocol, and Covert One. All of these will take place in the same cinematic universe.
If you're not familiar with The Janson Directive, here's an official description of the book:
When billionaire philanthropist Peter Novak is kidnapped by a terrorist known as The Caliph, it’s up to Paul Janson — a legend in the notorious U.
He has teamed up with Universal Pictures and screenwriter James Vanderbilt (Zodiac, Spider-Man 2) to develop a cinematic universe built around Robert Ludlum's spy novels, and it will start with The Janson Directive, which Johnson is set to star in. Some of the other books that will be included in the franchise include The Parsifal Mosaic, The Sigma Protocol, and Covert One. All of these will take place in the same cinematic universe.
If you're not familiar with The Janson Directive, here's an official description of the book:
When billionaire philanthropist Peter Novak is kidnapped by a terrorist known as The Caliph, it’s up to Paul Janson — a legend in the notorious U.
- 5/19/2016
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
(Cbr) Universal Pictures is looking for its next Robert Ludlum spy franchise, and it has turned to Dwayne Johnson to star. The actor revealed on Twitter that he has signed on for the adaptation of the author’s 2002 novel "The Janson Directive." Akiva Goldsman ("A Beautiful Mind") wrote the screenplay. Academy Award winner Akiva Goldsman will write the script. Let’s roll… #Ludlum #Conspiracy #JansonDirective pic.twitter.com/B0tpHu3dL8 — Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) September 27, 2014 Ludlum penned the Jason Bourne novels that inspired four Universal films — three starring Matt Damon, and a spinoff featuring Jeremy Renner. Damon and director Paul Greengrass are looking to reunite for a fifth installment. There’s also a possibility for a more direct follow-up to Renner’s "Bourne Legacy." Johnson continues to add franchises to his already busy workload. "Fast & Furious 7" will hit theaters on April 3, 2015, plus he’s also working on "G.I. Joe...
- 9/29/2014
- by TJ Dietsch, Comic Book Resources
- Hitfix
Ever since Universal revealed plans to adapt Robert Ludlum’s final novel, Hollywood’s go-to franchise reviver Dwayne Johnson has been attached to star. And so, following his notable work on The Fast and Furious and G.I. Joe, the wrestler-cum-actor has been given a franchise of his own with The Janson Directive.
Academy Award winner Akiva Goldsman will write the script. Let’s roll… #Ludlum #Conspiracy #JansonDirective pic.twitter.com/B0tpHu3dL8
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) September 27, 2014
Johnson, who confirmed the role through his official Twitter page over the weekend, will step into the shoes of Paul Janson, an ex-Navy Seal who has become a sought after corporate security consultant. Alongside the announcement, the studio confirmed that the script will be penned by none other than Akiva Goldsman — Oscar-winning scribe behind I Am Legend and I, Robot.
Based on Ludlum’s eponymous novel, the property shares strands of DNA with...
Academy Award winner Akiva Goldsman will write the script. Let’s roll… #Ludlum #Conspiracy #JansonDirective pic.twitter.com/B0tpHu3dL8
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) September 27, 2014
Johnson, who confirmed the role through his official Twitter page over the weekend, will step into the shoes of Paul Janson, an ex-Navy Seal who has become a sought after corporate security consultant. Alongside the announcement, the studio confirmed that the script will be penned by none other than Akiva Goldsman — Oscar-winning scribe behind I Am Legend and I, Robot.
Based on Ludlum’s eponymous novel, the property shares strands of DNA with...
- 9/29/2014
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
After reviving the Fast & Furious and G.I. Joe series, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson may be about to get a franchise of his very own, with news that the wrestler-turned-actor is in early talks to topline The Janson Directive, based on a novel by Bourne author Robert Ludlum, for Universal.
Published a year after Ludlum’s death in 2001, The Janson Directive focuses on Paul Janson, an ex-Navy Seal and former covert ops specialist who has become a highly in-demand corporate security consultant. After taking on a high-stakes assignment and botching the job, Janson finds himself marked for assassination by a directive issued from the highest echelons of the U.S. government. Determined to survive and clear his name, Janson goes on the run, only to uncover a decades-old conspiracy.
No director or screenwriter are yet attached to the project, but if Johnson takes on the lead role, expect Universal to move...
Published a year after Ludlum’s death in 2001, The Janson Directive focuses on Paul Janson, an ex-Navy Seal and former covert ops specialist who has become a highly in-demand corporate security consultant. After taking on a high-stakes assignment and botching the job, Janson finds himself marked for assassination by a directive issued from the highest echelons of the U.S. government. Determined to survive and clear his name, Janson goes on the run, only to uncover a decades-old conspiracy.
No director or screenwriter are yet attached to the project, but if Johnson takes on the lead role, expect Universal to move...
- 7/9/2014
- by Isaac Feldberg
- We Got This Covered
One of author Robert Ludlum’s final novels may be developed on to the big screen. Deadline is reporting Universal Pictures, Captivate Entertainment and Ludlum Entertainment may move forward to adapt “The Janson Directive” as a film. The novel was published a year after Ludlum’s death. They hired writer John Hlavin to write the screen adaptation. Hlavin wrote the screenplay for the upcoming sequel “Underworld Awakening.” He wrote scripts for television episodes for “Trust Me,” and “The Shield.” In this Ludlum’s spy novel, the story is about Paul Janson, an ex-Navy Seal and a former member of the covert agency Consular Operations. A mysterious woman hired Janson to save her boss, the Nobel Peace Laureate billionaire Peter Novak, from a militant organization that wants to kill Novak. However, the rescue mission tragically went wrong and Janson was framed for the murder. Janson would then uncover a certain government conspiracy that may topple governments.
- 10/26/2011
- LRMonline.com
Universal Pictures has plans to adapt another Robert Ludlum work with The Janson Directive , Deadline reports. The book, published posthumously in 2002, is officially described as follows: When billionaire philanthropist Peter Novak is kidnapped by a terrorist known as The Caliph, it's up to Paul Janson - a legend in the notorious U.S. covert agency Consular Operations - to save him. But Janson's rescue operation goes horribly wrong...and soon Janson is marked for death, the target of a "beyond salvage" order issued from the highest level of the government. Now Janson is running for his life, pursued by Jessica Kincaid, a young agent of astonishing ability who can anticipate and counter his every move. To survive, Janson must outrace a conspiracy that has gone beyond...
- 10/26/2011
- Comingsoon.net
Though Universal Pictures is already looking to capitalize on their success with the adaptation of Robert Ludlum's series of novels that started with The Bourne Identity by spinning off the series into The Bourne Legacy with Jeremy Renner, the studio is now looking to adapt one of the late author's last novels written before he died in 2001. Deadline has word that Universal, Captivate Entertainment and Ludlum Entertainment are teaming up for an adaptation of The Janson Directive, a story following Paul Janson, an ex-Navy Seal and former member of the covert government agency Consular Operations. More below! However, instead of losing his memories this time, our main character is haunted by them from his time in the Vietnam War where his mentor and commanding officer turned him over to the enemy to be tortured. But the real story takes off years later. Here's the official synopsis: When billionaire philanthropist...
- 10/26/2011
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
In the wake of three hit movies based on the Bourne novels, it’s a little surprising that no one in Hollywood bothered to rush out film versions of other Robert Ludlum books. Studios have an unfortunate penchant for pillaging whatever makes money until it’s no longer financially viable — why not give him the same treatment? (Bourne Legacy doesn’t count; if it was an adaptation — which it’s not — it would still be based on a book by Eric Van Lustbader. Yes, I can be overly-technical.)
It might be late, but Deadline is reporting that another one of his novels, The Janson Directive, is being taken to the screen. Universal is working with Captivate Entertainment and Ludlum Entertainment on the adaptation Ludlum‘s posthumous book, which follows Paul Janson, a Vietnam veteran scarred by memories of torture. Now acting as a “corporate secutiry consultant,” he “takes a job rescuing an important man,...
It might be late, but Deadline is reporting that another one of his novels, The Janson Directive, is being taken to the screen. Universal is working with Captivate Entertainment and Ludlum Entertainment on the adaptation Ludlum‘s posthumous book, which follows Paul Janson, a Vietnam veteran scarred by memories of torture. Now acting as a “corporate secutiry consultant,” he “takes a job rescuing an important man,...
- 10/26/2011
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
This romantic dramedy about two unlikely parents begins with a dreadful blind date when Alison ("Mad Men.s" Christina Hendricks) and her husband Peter Novak (Hayes MacArthur) fix up their respective best friends, Holly Berenson (Katherine Heigl) and Eric Messer (Josh Duhamel). Holly.s an uptight baker who owns an upscale pastry shop, while Messer (as he likes to be called) is an up-and-coming TV sports director and slick womanizer. It.s loathe-at-first-sight for this mismatched couple, who are subsequently forced to tolerate each other at Novak family gatherings and festivities.
- 10/12/2010
- Arizona Reporter
You really don’t need to run to see new mom Katherine Heigl’s new film about becoming an unplanned adoptive mom.
While the movie isn’t as stinky as a dirty diaper, neither is it as euphoric an experience as giving birth can be.
Instead, Life As We Know It is kind of like a baby — it’s cute. It starts off adorable with an unpromising date between attractive, ambitious, type-a caterer Holly Berenson (Katherine Heigl) and a laid-back playboy, sports TV camera man Eric Messer (Josh Duhamel.) They’ve been set up by their best friends — a perfectly in love couple, Peter Novak (Hayes MacArthur) and wife Alison, played by appealing curvy girl Christina Hendricks.
Holly and Messer’s date turns disastrous, but they have to tolerate each other at future events they can’t avoid — all because of their very dear best friends.
Their friends marry and...
While the movie isn’t as stinky as a dirty diaper, neither is it as euphoric an experience as giving birth can be.
Instead, Life As We Know It is kind of like a baby — it’s cute. It starts off adorable with an unpromising date between attractive, ambitious, type-a caterer Holly Berenson (Katherine Heigl) and a laid-back playboy, sports TV camera man Eric Messer (Josh Duhamel.) They’ve been set up by their best friends — a perfectly in love couple, Peter Novak (Hayes MacArthur) and wife Alison, played by appealing curvy girl Christina Hendricks.
Holly and Messer’s date turns disastrous, but they have to tolerate each other at future events they can’t avoid — all because of their very dear best friends.
Their friends marry and...
- 10/8/2010
- by Jennifer Murray
- HollywoodLife
Plot: Catherine Dean (Jennifer Lopez) is a psychotherapist working for a unconventional and innovative new technique of treatment, allowing her mind enter in to her patients minds. They have found a revolutionary approach to helping patients through their authentic thoughts and memories. However, the researchers are in risk of getting shut down since they haven’t been able to prove any concrete progress. Catherine decides to take a risk to save the work they have been doing when F.B.I. agent, Peter Novak (Vince Vaughn), asks her to step in to the mind of a serial killer. She is in danger of being under his control by doing this, but she believes she might be able to reach out to him, get him to trust her, and help uncover where his existing victims are. Catherine learns about the killer’s tragic past of child abuse and aggression. She forms...
- 6/4/2009
- by Kelsey Zukowski
- HorrorYearbook
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