Matt Damon to Return to Jason Bourne Franchise
By Justin Kroll
Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass are ready to be born again at Universal Pictures.
Sources tell Variety the the studio is in the early stages of bringing back Damon and Greengrass for an untitled “Jason Bourne” feature, marking the revival of one of Hollywood’s biggest action franchises.
Over the years Greengrass and Damon and have stood there ground about not returning to the CIA property, based on the Robert Ludlum novels, after working together on “The Bourne Supremacy” and “The Bourne Ultimatum.”
But sources now say both Greengrass and Damon are changing their tune and are in early talks to return to the franchise.
Universal is already developing an untitled film set in the Bourne world with Justin Lin directing and Jeremy Renner returning to play Aaron Cross. That film was slotted to bow on July 16, 2016 and its unknown if that film will stay there or if the new “Bourne” film will take it place.
Damon’s three Bourne movies, which began in 2002 and ended in 2007, grossed nearly $1 billion worldwide at the box office.
The WME-repped Damon is about to start filming “The Martian” for Fox and Greengrass last directed “Captain Phillips.” He is repped by CAA.
Universal had no comment on this story.
Deadline Hollywood first reported the news.
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