Bourne Identity 4 has a director — but will it get its star? Tony Gilroy, the screenwriter behind all of the Bourne movies will get a shot a directing the fourth installment with the news today that he’s in final negotiations to helm the fourth installment in the Bourne franchise, The Bourne Legacy. Deadline Hollywood first broke the news. How this will manifest itself on the big screen is still a big question. Star Matt Damon has made it very clear that he would not return to the franchise that made him a household name without his preferred director Paul Greengrass.
Now that Greengrass is officially not doing the fourth installment, it’s likely Universal will be looking for a new Jason Bourne. Gilroy, who made his directorial debut with last summer’s Duplicity, is currently writing the script, which has been moving forward without Damon’s involvement. Whether or not that means Gilroy will be reworking the franchise with another actor playing Bourne — or if he will introduce a new main character — is being kept under wraps. The studio cryptically says that the fourth installment “allows for the return of Jason Bourne, but doesn’t require it.” Hmmm. It is encouraging that the man who turned Robert Ludlum’s dense books into high-speed actioners will be behind the camera as the series redefines itself.
Read more:
Matt Damon on ‘Bourne 4′: ‘I wouldn’t do it without Paul Greengrass’
‘Bourne’ director confirms he won’t do fourth film
Hollywood must be in real trouble. Why ruin one of the best trilogies ever created? For me there is just one Jason Bourne and that is Matt Damon.
You said it sister!
Oh yeah! Matt Damon IS Jason Bourne!
Even though it could be re worked without Damon, it wouldn’t be the same. And replacing Damon as Bourne with another actor is just dumb. This isn’t Bond.
Exactly my sentiments.
The Bourne Redundancy. Thanks, I’ll pass.
The Bourne movies are what really made me into a Matt Damon fan. I will have a very hard time embracing a new actor in the role. If they change actors, I’ll just wait til DVD to see this thing. But I’ll go see Damon in the theater
I’d also like to see Julia Stiles return, but that is just a bonus, not a deal-breaker like Damon
I think everyone agrees that this is a horrible idea. The Bourne trilogy was awesome and was wrapped up in a satisfactory manner. There’s really no need for this.
uh uh. No way!
If there is no Matt Damon, there is no Jason Bourne.
This will single-handedly ruin my favorite movie franchise.
Like Jay said, ill wait until it comes out DVD, but there’s no way that i am seeing this movie in theaters without matt damon in it! It’s not worth it and i think they should be working their asses of trying to get Matt to come back.
Anyone can play Jason Bourne. It is not a real person, it is a false name, therefore it can be given to anyone.
With a title like “Bourne Legacy” it can be inferred that that may very well be their intention.
Sure, your statement is technically true…. any actor CAN play any role.
I think the point most people are making is that Matt basically knocked it out of the park and any substitute will be be inferior.
It would be like re-casting Capt. Jack Sparrow in Pirates 4 as someone other than Depp.
Sure, you may be able to pull it off, but you’d be better off not even doing it at all
Well, I think the point is that it’s about Bourne’s Legacy, and doesn’t necessarily require Bourne to actually be in the movie. It could be about the after effects of Bourne’s actions in the last movie, and how people like him (or a single person) have to defend themselves against being terminated by the government.
Even Donald Tump???
the film will be named THE BOURNE LEGACY because it’s the title of the 4th bourne book. they have all been in order thus far
I hate to break the news to the writer of this news item but I do believe that Tony Gilroy was nominated for best director for directing a film before Duplicity, which is Michael Clayton. That’s kind of a big oversight if you ask me.
He also directed DUPLICITY (fail). And he’s never directed any action movie, much less a follow-up to some of the greatest ever made.
HMMMM interesting, I would really like them to follow the books with the Jackyl
I seem to remember no one liking the new Star Trek, that is until it came out. This could be the same??
POW right on man…
Unless they did a prequal and had another actor as a much younger Bourne, how he became an agent , or something like that, it is a rubbish idea.
If Matt thought it had the chance to be BETTER than the other movies (or even just as GOOD) he would come back. And unless it has the chance to be as good, what’s the point?
It never works (except for James Bond)changing the lead in a franchise film it’s Matt or don’t make it
Gilroy made his directional debut with the excellent Michael Clayton. Duplicity was the second film he’s directed. Just saying.
Taylor Lautner for Bourne 2.0!
Or Michael Cera!
Or one of the CGI hamsters from G-Force!
That made me laugh out loud but I do think Lautner looks like Damon.
Seriously insulting to leave out Michael Clayton. And to the commenter who said that he’s never directed an action movie: He did write 3 great ones. In fact, they were three previous movies in the series he’s being hired to direct! So I think this is a pretty safe bet.
Matt was a household name waaaay before Bourne!