Dwayne Johnson is set to star in the thriller "The Janson Directive," the first film in Universal Pictures' planned cinematic universe based on the novels of the late Robert Ludlum ("The Bourne Trilogy").

According to The Hollywood Reporter, screenwriter James Vanderbilt will adapt "The Janson Directive" from a story co-written by Akiva Goldsman, who's also overseeing Paramount Pictures' plans for interconnected "Transformers" and Hasbro universes.

"The Janson Directive" follows Paul Janson, an ex-Navy SEAL and covert U.S. operative turned top private-security consultant who's framed for the murder of a Nobel laureate. To solve the mystery, and clear his name, Janson must join forces with the protege sent to kill him.

The thriller was already in development, along with such Ludlum works as "The Parsifal Mosaic," "The Sigma Protocol" and "Covert One," but the new deal between Universal and Captivate Entertainment will bring them together under one umbrella. THR notes the agreement also will allow for "crossover points" in the individual films.

Vanderbilt, who co-wrote Johnson's 2003 film "The Rundown," is also on board to work on two additional stories or treatments, which will be given to other screenwriters.