Matt Damon Is Trying to Get a New JASON BOURNE Movie Made and Hopes It Feels "Like the First Three"
For a while, it looked like the future of the Jason Bourne franchise was up in the air. Rumors even started making the rounds that Zendaya might be stepping into the iconic role after starring alongside Matt Damon in The Odyssey.
As fun as that sounds as internet speculation, Damon has now shut those rumors down and confirmed that he still fully intends to suit up as Bourne again. He says he wants it to capture the same magic as the original trilogy.
During an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Damon opened up about where things currently stand with the next Jason Bourne movie. While nothing is officially locked in, he revealed that conversations are moving forward with acclaimed filmmaker Edward Berger, who directed All Quiet on the Western Front.
Damon explained: "Yeah, I'm talking to – there's a great director named Ed Berger. He did All Quiet on the Western Front. He's a wonderful director, and we're talking about it. We're trying to nail the story down, because I'd love to do it. It's just that thing where, if we do it, we want it to be like the first three.
"And it's a tough [one], because it's not built like a James Bond, where every movie is its own mission. People can even change the person playing Bond. It's a linear story. Makes it more challenging to do a sequel where you're giving people what they want, but also enough new stuff. It's a tricky one."
That pretty much sums up the challenge. Unlike the James Bond franchise, Bourne has always been one continuous story following the same character as he uncovers more of his past.
Every new installment has to move that story forward while still delivering the grounded action and espionage that made the series such a favorite in the first place.
The franchise launched in 2002 with The Bourne Identity and has since grown to five films. The most recent entry, Jason Bourne, arrived in 2016 with Paul Greengrass returning to direct Damon once again. Since then, fans have been waiting to see if the character would ever return.
It sounds like Damon is just as eager as everyone else to make it happen, but only if they can find the right story. As he put it: "I hope we can crack it. I think we have a line of sight on how to do it."
The first three Bourne movies remain some of the best modern spy thrillers ever made, and if Damon and Berger can capture that same energy instead of forcing another sequel just because the franchise exists, there's every reason to be optimistic.
Until then, fans can catch Damon in The Odyssey, which is now playing in theaters, and I think he delivers his best performance in the film.
If this new Jason Bourne project comes together the way Damon hopes, it could finally bring the franchise back in a way longtime fans have been waiting for. I love the Bourne franchise, and it would be cool to see another awesome Bourne film with Damon back in action.