You’d think the one of the most important elements of a movie in the Bourne franchise is Jason Bourne, but Universal and writer/director Tony Gilroy seems to disagree. After director Paul Greengrass left, it was almost certain Matt Damon would say no too, and while there’s been talk about turning the fourth film into a prequel and installing a new actor as a younger version of Jason Bourne, it appears they’ve decided on a different strategy – continuing with a story set in the same world, but with no Jason Bourne in sight!
Gilroy spoke to Hollywood-Elsewhere to give them the lowdown on the project. He said Legacy won’t be based on one of Robert Lumdlum’s novels, “It’s a completely original screenplay. This is not a reboot or a recast or a prequel. No one’s replacing Matt Damon. There will be a whole new hero, a whole new chapter…this is a stand-alone project.
“The easiest way to think of it is an expansion or a reveal. Jason Bourne will not be in this film, but he’s very much alive. What happened in the first three films is the trigger for what happens. I’m building a legend and an environment and a wider conspiracy…the world we’re making enhances and advances and invites Jason Bourne’s return [down the road].
“Everything you saw in the first three films actually happened, and everyone who got into will be rewarded for paying attention. We’re going to show you the bigger picture, the bigger canvas. When you see what we’re going and see what we’re doing it’ll be pretty obvious….but Jason Bourne’s actvities in the first three films is the immediate trigger.”
Seems like a risky strategy and one that could backfire, as the general filmgoer may feel cheated by a film bearing the Bourne name, but with nobody called Bourne in it. You can understand Universal wanting to continue the franchise, but whether this is the way to do it remains to be seen.