Things are progressing with the adaptation of Robert Ludlum's last thriller novel, "The Sigma Protocal".  Universal has just hired Irwin Winkler and Jose Ruisanchez to pen the script.

Winkler said, "What we are really hoping to do is create a franchise, built around this ordinary guy who gets caught up in international intrigue, and who teams with this operative who is declared a rogue by the CIA. Unlike Bourne, who is a trained assassin, this is an innocent guy traveling in Europe who gets in way over his head. And it has all the great Ludlum intrigue."

This fresh start comes after almost 10 years of development and writers coming and going.