'Jason Bourne'

[Walts Ghost]

Renner & Damon May Team Up for ‘Bourne 5′

Universal recently shifted the release date for The Bourne Legacy back an entire week, in order to make room for the box office reign of Dark Knight Rises. The studio is taking no risks with its Bourne franchise quasi-sequel/spinoff. In fact, ever since writer/director Tony Gilroy conceived the project, the door’s been left open for Matt Damon to return as Jason Bourne in a fifth installment (we’ll just call it Bourne 5 for now).

The full Bourne Legacy trailer was structured to drive home the idea that J. Bourne was just the tip of the iceberg with respect to Treadstone and other black-ops programs. Truth be told, that idea was emphasized ad nauseam in the trailer – but that gesture was arguably necessary, given how many people have been under the mistaken impression that Bourne Legacy is a reboot (starring Jeremy Renner as Jason Bourne).

Gilroy spoke with Empire about Bourne Legacy, and likened the film’s connection to the Bourne trilogy as follows:

As mentioned before, the official Bourne Legacy trailer (and the footage screened at CinemaCon 2012) both back what Gilroy said. The film’s promos to date have also revealed that Bourne Legacy overlaps directly with events in the Bourne trilogy. Moreover, it appears that plot points from Bourne Ultimatum reappear in Legacy, in order to set the storyline of the latter in motion.

Producer Frank Marshall also reiterated Gilroy’s comment about how Bourne Legacy (literally) expands the Bourne movie universe:

Damon previously spoke out about Bourne Legacy, saying he felt the series needed a shot of fresh life – after the trilogy had taken Bourne’s identity/amnesia storyline as far as possible (without becoming ridiculous). However, Damon has never dismissed the idea of the Bourne character returning in the fifth installment (in public, that is).

A Damon/Renner union in Bourne 5 will only happen if moviegoers are receptive to Bourne Legacy, as will ultimately be reflected by the box office returns. The overall early consensus, however, seems optimistic-to-positive (based on feedback to Legacy trailers). It helps that Gilroy is an accomplished filmmaker, thanks to his script contributions on the first three Bourne movies, and the Oscar-nominated Michael Clayton (which he wrote and directed).

Personally, this writer is still concerned that Gilroy might’ve gotten too caught up in revising the backstory for Bourne Legacy – enough so the film could suffer from excessive “retconning.” Nonetheless, early footage does seem promising, and Gilroy has impressed with his plans to changeup the action in Legacy, so as to reflect the non-fractured mindset of Renner’s character. Hence, there’s good reason to be hopeful.

Source

[ScarredLungs]

That would be awesome. From the trailers, it seems that I am going to enjoy the Bourne Legacy with Renner. So a teamup = win!

[thedarkangel1975]

Originally Posted by cvm

That would be awesome. From the trailers, it seems that I am going to enjoy the Bourne Legacy with Renner. So a teamup = win!

I agree with you

[steve1971]

I am a big fan of the trilogy and will give the new film a shot. But I am gonna missing Matt Damon because he made this series in my book as good as it was and still is.

[jayturner514]

This really would be awesome. I loved the first three, and Renner is great, so I'm pretty sure that I'll love Legacy, but put them together - incredible!

[R3P0]

Im starting to gain more respect for Renner as an action actor. His performances in SWAT, Avengers, and MI:4 were all very good. I am willing to give this a shot in hopes that perhaps some type of showdown between his character and Damons would end up with Bourne killing Renners character and ending the series in 5.

[jwerk]

Damon coming back as Bourne would be awesome, but I really don't see him doing it. He's already said he's not interested. Hopefully I'm wrong though

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by jwerk

Damon coming back as Bourne would be awesome, but I really don't see him doing it. He's already said he's not interested. Hopefully I'm wrong though

I think he'll eventually get past the "Without Greengrass, I'm not interested..." thing. Just give him a nice check and a good script, and I'm sure he'll show up.

[Bullseye]

I'd look forward to that. Big fan of the original trilogy and I like what I see in the upcoming trailer.

[Blu Lemmy]

Sounds good to me, I am a massive fan of the original trilogy and like Renner plenty so it's win win!

[Jezza]

Much as I love Damon, I think if he does come back then Bourne 5 should be his final appearance, so essentially from The Bourne Legacy onward it's Renner's series.

I just hope Bourne doesn't turn into a Bond style series, where the lead actor is replaced every few films, because it's been done with 007. I think Bourne should remain its own instead of copying a similar action series.

[HockeySlasher]

Originally Posted by Jezza

Much as I love Damon, I think if he does come back then Bourne 5 should be his final appearance, so essentially from The Bourne Legacy onward it's Renner's series.

I just hope Bourne doesn't turn into a Bond style series, where the lead actor is replaced every few films, because it's been done with 007. I think Bourne should remain its own instead of copying a similar action series.

I wouldn't mind a Bond-type series.

Heck, they are still pumping out Bourne novels, so there is some material out there. Well, assuming the filmmakers start to follow the books. The first three movies have NOTHING to do with the first three books, other than some character names.

[ghostsofjoy]

I have a feeling this will likely end up as Universal's answer to Bond; they'll keep each actor as long as they can and then switch it up. If they're able to properly keep the continuity between characters and films, not to mention the tightness in the scripts that they've managed thus far, I will not have a problem with this... especially if they're able to pull the occasional main character crossover.

[Darth Marcus]

Originally Posted by HockeySlasher

I wouldn't mind a Bond-type series.

Heck, they are still pumping out Bourne novels, so there is some material out there. Well, assuming the filmmakers start to follow the books. The first three movies have NOTHING to do with the first three books, other than some character names.

I haven't read the books, however I was in Barnes and Noble one day and thought "I should read the Bourne novels since I loved the movies so much". I picked up The Bourne Ultimatum and began to read the plot synopsis on the back cover. It literally did not resemble the film in any way except for the fact that it had Jason Bourne. The only plot synopsis that even remotely resembled the film's plot was The Bourne Identity. I am still interested in reading the novels just to see how much the books differ. I know The Bourne Ultimatum (book) has Bourne going up against Carlos the Jackal, which is obviously in direct contrast with what happens in the film. Although I guess it is fitting that the biggest spy threat for Bourne in the film plays Carlos the Jackal in the recent mini-series that Criterion released.

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by kristoffer

But Greengrass hasn't agreed yet and to me that is Key to a good Bourne film.

I don't agree. A good script and director can make a good Bourne movie. The scripts are what made Greegrass' films so good. Not the erratic shaky cam action scenes... I'm glad those have been done away with here. I really don't think there is a formula to make a good Bourne movie, just like there isn't a formula for a good Bond movie. Greengrass isn't make or break Bourne for me.

[RocShemp]

Originally Posted by Walts Ghost

I don't agree. A good script and director can make a good Bourne movie. The scripts are what made Greegrass' films so good. Not the erratic shaky cam action scenes... I'm glad those have been done away with here. I really don't think there is a formula to make a good Bourne movie, just like there isn't a formula for a good Bond movie. Greengrass isn't make or break Bourne for me.

Although I do give Greengrass credit for making sure it all stayed relatively grounded. Though in all fairness, Liman set that particular ball rolling.

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by Plasmachick

Matt Damon is not coming back. Gilroy wrote Jason Bourne out of Bourne Legacy. The only reason Marshall is even mentioning it is because he knows that's what the public wants to hear. General Audience wants Jason Bourne. People have a hard time accepting the new guy. We all know that Renner is a fantastic up and coming actor but frankly he's not well known. So it's not like he's gonna be a big draw to the film. Couple that with trying to sell a new character and it's gonna take some work. The film looks good from the trailers but it's not Jason Bourne. So yeah the producer will say his dream is to team them up in a fifth movie. But we know before that happens this will have to be a hit. And if this film becomes a big hit, then they won't need Jason Bourne or Matt Damon anymore. Matt Damon returning is a bunch of smoke.

Well, since Gilroy has admitted to being open to the idea of being Bourne back, it's not out of the realm of possibility. The problem is getting Damon on board, not Gilroy.

[Plasmachick]

Originally Posted by Walts Ghost

Well, since Gilroy has admitted to being open to the idea of being Bourne back, it's not out of the realm of possibility. The problem is getting Damon on board, not Gilroy.

Damon was already back. He and Greengrass were both on board for Bourne 4. They were trying to get a script. They had two writers working on it. George Nolfi was one and Josh Zetumer was the other. They couldn't come up with a script that worked. Greengrass left the project and they brought Gilroy in to write it. Damon was still on board during that time and they were looking for a director. Then it was announced that Gilroy was going to direct. Jason Bourne was written out of the script at that point and so there was no need for Damon.

Sure he left the door open for Damon to come back but in my opinion that's if and only if the studio insists for whatever reasons. But if this is successful why on earth would they need to bring back Damon?

From Gilroy Empire Article via http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplayli...-film-20120626

"I had never spent one moment thinking about how to do a sequel to 'Bourne Ultimatum.' I first came in for two weeks just to spitball. I had a very random idea...so we started with that and it got more and more exciting. All of a sudden I was staring at something that had a great deal of resonance and was soulful and uncynical and was also gonna kick ass. So that was good."

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by Agent Bond

The story I heard was Damon didn't want to come back for Part 4 because he was tired of making Bourne movies.



+ 1. I became a fan of his after The Town. An incredible performance!

The story is he didn't want to come back without Greengrass. That's the problem. So he said if he and Greengrass come up with a story, then he'll do it.

[tigertron]

Not only that he wasn't even asked about starring in the Bourne Legacy. He found out about the film like we did, off the internet.

I do hope Damon returns for the fifth installment because I feel this is his franchise and his best films.