Paul Greengrass Turned Down James Bond Movie Because He Was Too Loyal to Jason Bourne

Paul Greengrass had a chance to trade Jason Bourne for James Bond, but the director couldn't bring himself to switch sides.

Greengrass, who directed The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, and Jason Bourne, recently revealed that he was approached about directing a 007 movie after his first outing with Matt Damon as the CIA assassin.

While taking on James Bond would have been a pretty awesome opportunity, Greengrass felt his loyalty belonged to Bourne. Speaking on The Rest is Classified podcast, the filmmaker explained:

“They asked me after I did Bourne Supremacy. I have immense admiration and respect for what [producers] Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson did with that. And [Daniel Craig] was a fantastic James Bond."

Based on the timing, Greengrass was likely being considered for Casino Royale, the 2006 film that introduced Daniel Craig as the new 007. That directing job ultimately went to Martin Campbell, who had already successfully relaunched the franchise with Pierce Brosnan in GoldenEye.

It's interesting to imagine what Greengrass might have done with Bond, especially considering how much his Bourne movies influenced action filmmaking during that era. His intense, grounded approach to espionage and brutal, close-quarters combat would have been a natural fit for Craig's harder-edged version of the character.

But Greengrass had a pretty funny explanation for why he couldn't make the jump, comparing the decision to switching teams in one of English football's biggest rivalries.

"It's a bit like if you play for Manchester United, you can’t sign for Man City, you know? You wouldn’t feel right about that. You feel loyal. I do."

During the 2000s and 2010s, Bond and Bourne were competing to deliver the best spy action on the big screen. Both franchises moved toward more grounded storytelling and harder-hitting action, although each maintained its own identity.

Greengrass certainly helped define that era with his Bourne films, and it's hard to argue with his decision to stick with the character that helped establish him as one of Hollywood's standout action directors.

These days, both franchises are waiting for their next big chapter. The Bourne series hasn't released a movie since 2016's Jason Bourne, while Craig's Bond met his end in 2021's No Time to Die.

Amazon MGM Studios is now moving forward with Bond 26, with Denis Villeneuve attached to direct. The search for the next James Bond continues, with actors including Jacob Elordi and Jack Lowden reportedly among the names being considered.

Greengrass directing Casino Royale could have been something really awesome, but Campbell delivered one of the strongest Bond movies in the franchise. Meanwhile, Greengrass went on to make The Bourne Ultimatum, which remains one of the best modern spy action thrillers.

Still, I would've loved to see what Greengrass could have done with 007.