Just when we were getting used to the idea of Jeremy Renner becoming the new focal point of the Bourne franchise, it looks like Matt Damon will be returning for another adventure as former CIA assassin Jason Bourne.
Deadline reports that Damon and filmmaker Paul Greengrass, who directed the second and third installments of the franchise, will reunite for another film featuring Damon as Jason Bourne. The studio is reportedly so excited about the prospect of bringing back Damon and Greengrass that the film is expected to take the July 2016 release date that was previously set aside for the follow-up to The Bourne Legacy with Renner reprising his starring role.
The announcement hasn’t been confirmed yet, so the report is entirely unofficial at this point — but with the first three films starring Damon earning considerably more than the most recent installment with Renner, the decision seems logical from the studio’s perspective. In total, the four-film Bourne franchise has earned more than $638 million in the U.S. and $1.2 billion worldwide.
If the report proves true, the Bourne film with Damon will slide into the July 16, 2016, release date that was set aside for the next installment of the franchise and the upcoming follow-up to The Bourne Legacy with Renner — directed by Justin Lin — will be scheduled for a later date.
