NBCUniversal's Steve Burke Targets More 'Bourne' Films, Animation

NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke said Thursday that the entertainment conglomerate's Universal Pictures will focus more on film franchises and an increase in animated movie output over time to strengthen its film business.

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Speaking at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2012 Media, Communications & Entertainment conference in LA in a session that was webcast, he said what a film unit needs to ensure more stable financials are "franchises and animation."

On the animation front, he said the studio currently put out one film every 18 months or so. The goal is to "eventually" release two animated feature a year, he said, lauding the success of Despicable Me.

In terms of franchises, Fast Six will come out next year, and people can expect the studio to work on further Bourne movies after the recent Bourne Legacy, Burke said.

He also highlighted the big success of Ted, telling the conference his team wants to doTed 2 "as soon as we can."

Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com

Twitter: @georgszalai