Here we go again. It has been two years since the Jeremy Renner-starring “The Bourne Legacy,” and seven years since “The Bourne Ultimatum,” and the question the entire time is: will Matt Damon return to the series? And the actor, time and again, has explained the criteria that would need to be met for that to happen. “I’ve always been open to it if Paul Greengrass is the director and … we’ve just never been able to come up with a story,” he said this spring, once more. “It felt like such a good way to end it the last time, but having said that I love that character… and I’d love to see what happened to him.” So, could it finally be happening?
As you might recall, earlier this week it was announced that Universal was pushing “Bourne 5” from its previous August 2015 to date to July 15, 2016. And according to Latino Review, that’s because director Justin Lin managed to do the impossible—he got Damon to return. Now, Universal did hire Andrew Baldwin to write a new draft of the script this spring, though that was right around the time Damon was one again saying “thanks, but no thanks, but maybe.” But LR suggests that another reason for Damon returning is that the dude needs a box office hit after a string of films—”Elysium,” “Promised Land,” “Monuments Men“—failed to perform as expected. Or maybe they just came up with a helluva story? Or perhaps Universal really wants to get the franchise back on financial track, particularly as ‘Legacy’ didn’t do as well as its predecessors.
We’re still two years out from “Bourne 5” so expect a lot of back-and-forth, denials and cagey answers, but if Damon is back, we’ll be very curious to see what happens to David Webb next…
Out of sight, out of mind. Yes or no! Who does Damon think he is? He\’s getting older and frankly talent, good looks is always just around the corner waiting to take that place. If he wants to do this, he better make up his mind. No doubt he was great as Jason Bourne but the only reason Bourne Legacy wasn\’t as action packed was because it had to be "over explained" in order for it to continue with or without Jason. Tony Gilroy is a brilliant writer and took chances so the story can keep going. He cares for the craft and from were I\’m standing the "blockbuster" needed to suffer in order for the franchise to work. Mr. Gilroy although an artist is after all still a businessman. He is successful for a reason. It ain\’t just a hat rack folks. Damon on the other hand? A dime a dozen.
Elysium had a 93 mil grow domestic. It cost 170. Its a flop, and it deserved to be a flop. Damon is fine, if you like his brand of message. But I think its time to put him to rest.
Just a little FYI Renner was NOT Bourne. He played Aaron Cross. WELL.
I am ready for a return of Matt Damon as Bourne. Even as an avid Ludlam/Bourne reader and fan, I loved Matt Damon as Bourne. I can and do watch the Bourne movies over and over.
Jeremy Renner is a good contrast to Damon's Bourne; Damon always played the character like a noble boy scout where in the books he's more cold blooded and gun happy. Renner actually portrays Aaron Cross closer to Robert Ludlums literary character. It'd be fascinating to see Cross hunt Bourne.
I have just watched the Bourne legacy again and it's still so bad I can watch the first three again and again matt Damon. Damon just brings that some thing to the role that's missing from the forth move universal need pull there finger out and get matt Damon back into the fifth move if they want to make money out of it
Matt Damon is Bourne… I didn't like Renner as Bourne. If he comes back it will kick ass.
Renner is a good actor but he doesn't belong in this series.
Bourne 5 opens with Pam Landy in bed waking from what was obviously a nightmare. Strong arms reach over to comfort her. "Oh, Jason, I had a weird dream about some guy that was trying to pretend he was you, but he was really just a moron and a drug addict!" Clue music, and we launch into a REAL Bourne movie. You know, the good kind. You're welcome, world!
It ain't really legit for the studio to bash Damon's box office when his last action movie made more than Legacy did.
Omgggggggg can we please just put Latino Review to rest? They are the National Enquirer of movie gossip. You are better than this, Playlist!!!!!!
I hope so. That'd mean Ridley Scott's next film won't be The Martian, but Prometheus 2, thank God.
Please but to rest the idea that Damon has had bad box office. He's one of the steadiest performers in the industry. Ryan Gosling would kill for Damon's box office. Elysium made almost $300 million world wide, which isn't huge but is pretty good for a stand alone one-off which is not a franchise. Heck, it made more than Bourne Legacy. His sole recent big loser was Promised Land, but that was a socially conscious niche film with a small budget.
It would be great, but it's probably not a coincidence that this story is floating right after Universal hired a new writer. They are probably just feeling insecure, so they are trying to grab Damon. There is no way he is making a Bourne movie with Lin. Impossible.