Paramount Pictures hopes to expand its spy franchises by securing the rights to "The Saint" novels by Leslie Charteris.

According to Deadline, "Transformers'" producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura is in talks to oversee the project.

"The Saint" follows the Robin Hood-like adventures of Simon Templar, a British spy who spends his time bringing down the world's most notorious criminals. If the studio moves ahead with the project, "The Saint" could be viable competition for Sony, which produces the James Bond franchise.

"The Saint" has been adapted numerous times, perhaps most memorably as the 1960s television series starring Roger Moore, who of course went on to play Bond. Val Kilmer also stepped into the role in a 1997 feature film.