Following the limited success of the franchise without him, Matt Damon is returning to take on the role of Jason Bourne in what will be the fifth film of the series.
‘The Bourne Legacy’ featured Jeremy Renner in the non-Bourne lead role but it didn’t hold the same interest for the audience as the previous three highly successful instalments. Critics also panned it. This may have also been due to a change in director as well with Tony Gilroy taking over from Paul Greengrass. Greengrass will return for Bourne 5 (no official title yet).
Damon recently confirmed to E! the film was going ahead, to be released 9 years after his last scenes as the C.I.A operative Jason Bourne.
“It’ll be in 2016 when the movie will actually come out. [Director] Paul Greengrass is going to do another one and that’s all I ever said. I just needed him to say yes.”
Alicia Vikander and Tommy Lee Jones are also confirmed to appear and rumours were abounding that Viggo Mortensen would play the main villain, however it now seems that Vincent Cassel has won the part, in what could be his biggest Hollywood role to date. He’s featured as a villainous character in other terrific films such as ‘Black Swan’ and Danny Boyle’s ‘Trance‘.
Not much was known about the plot of the new film but Damon recently hinted at what might be in store.
“Without giving too much of it away, it’s Bourne through an austerity-riddled Europe and in a post-Snowden world. It seems like enough has changed, you know? There are all these kinds of arguments about spying and civil liberties and the nature of democracy.”
As usual it seems the franchise will combine action and thrills with some timely and pointed political commentary. The locations Damon revealed also hint at this. Damon says:
“We’re starting in Greece, you know, the beginning of democracy. And the movie ends in Las Vegas, the most grotesque incarnation of….”
They say it’s bad idea to go to the well too many times but considering the big gap between appearances and the fact that Damon said he wouldn’t go back unless it was to a solid story, this could work out. It will still be a far cry from the earlier films though.
What was your favourite of the three Matt Damon Bourne films?
