Matt Damon Finally Back As Bourne?

Here are the facts: Universal Pictures recently announced the development of a sixth Bourne movie, this one directed by Edward Berger—the excellent director of the critically acclaimed All Quiet on the Western Front. Obviously, this development led to rampant speculation. As any action fan will tell you, the Bourne series remains a cornerstone of the genre. It has amassed a staggering $1.6 billion globally, with Matt Damon leading four of the five previous films–the latest being 2016’s Jason Bourne.

While on The Late Show, Damon lavished deserved praise on Berger, voicing his eager approval of the collaboration. After acknowledging Berger’s recent success, the beloved actor went even further, declaring his genuine desire to join forces with the filmmaker. To hear Damon tell it, he’s “as anxious as you are” to reprise his role as Bourne. That said, Matt Damon also accepts reality, though we’re less eager to… He touched upon the inevitable passage of time between the first film and the present day, noting that, for the franchise to have a future beyond his tenure, “somebody is going to need to take it over.” 

The augmenting excitement aside, details concerning the sixth Bourne film remain scant. Industry insiders report that the project remains in its infancy; no script or screenwriter is, as of now, attached. At this early stage of development, many questions are teasingly unanswered, including whether Matt Damon, Jeremy Renner (star of The Bourne Legacy), or perhaps a new face will lead the next installment.

If the project proceeds, action fans worldwide earnestly hope Berger will join the esteemed ranks of previous Bourne directors like Doug Liman, Paul Greengrass, and Tony Gilroy. Each filmmaker memorably contributed their unique visions to the franchise’s legacy—a series noted for its cinematic flare and narrative weight.The Bourne universe is a celebrated series of action-thriller films based on the character Jason Bourne, a CIA assassin suffering from extreme memory loss. Author Robert Ludlum initially penned the novels inspiring the franchise. The series enjoys global renown for its gripping depiction of espionage, intense action sequences, sophisticated storytelling, and Matt Damon’s acting chops. Critics have also celebrated its exploration of relevant themes, such as identity, surveillance, and government conspiracy.

It feels like just yesterday, but the series began with 2002’s The Bourne Identity, directed by Doug Liman, and relates Bourne’s initial attempts to discover his identity as his original handlers pursue and try to kill him.

Here’s to hoping Matt Damon reprises his role for one more Bourne adventure.