Universal hot of Ludlum's Cold War 'Mosaic' (VAR, THR)

By Nancy Tartaglione-Vialatte

Universal is turning up the heat on Robert Ludlum's Cold War novel "The Parsifal Mosaic" as its next development project with Imagine possibly boarding to produce. This would be the first major project for Captivate Entertainment - the company that controls screen rights to Ludlum novels - which made an overall deal with the studio last year.

Captivate's deal gave Universal exclusive rights to continue the Jason Bourne franchise as well as giving the studio first look at all Ludlum titles, 25 of which are yet to be optioned for the screen.

The studio is also developing "The Sigma Protocol," with Jose Padilha attached to direct, as well as a fourth "Bourne" with Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon.

"Parsifal" focuses on jockeying between US and Soviet intelligence agents, with a pair of American spies who are partners as well as lovers at the center of a series of crosses and double crosses.

"The Parsifal Mosaic" comes in the wake of Tom Cruise entering negotiations to star with Denzel Washington in David Cronenberg's take on Ludlum thriller "The Matarese Circle" at MGM.