Over the summer, we reported on a rumor that Universal was working on a deal with Matt Damon to return to the role of Jason Bourne. That rumor was quickly shot down by producers, but a few months later Deadline was able to confirm that Damon and director Paul Greengrass were in active negotiations. Reps for Damon and Greengrass, as well as the studio, declined to comment at the time, but now a new quote from Damon himself makes it official: Jason Bourne is back.
The news was actually revealed by Damon’s longtime friend and collaborator, Ben Affleck, as the pair were being interviewed by E! News during an event for Project Greenlight. Affleck mentioned that Damon would be “doing another Bourne movie next fall,” and the interviewer pressed Damon for details:
“Yes, [we’re shooting] next year. It’ll be in 2016 when the movie will actually comes out. Paul Greengrass is going to do another one and that’s all I ever said. I just needed him to say yes.”
The second part of that statement is the key, because Damon had gone on record numerous times that he wouldn’t return for another Bourne film unless Greengrass was involved. With Universal apparently pulling Greengrass back into the fold, that was enough to lure Damon back, as well.
A direct sequel to The Bourne Legacy is also being developed, with Jeremy Renner returning to the role of Aaron Cross. No word on whether or not Cross would appear in this new Greengrass/Damon Bourne film, but it would certainly make sense, and would lend a bit more legitimacy to the spinoff series.
Look for the new Matt Damon Bourne film in 2016.
bourne 5 matt damon Paul Greengrass universal