The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission.
Jason Bourne: Universal wants Matt Damon to do Bourne films until he dies
'Even though Matt and Paul had been very definitive about not wanting to come back, we weren’t really willing to submit to that'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Director Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon have always been attributed as the key ingredient to the Bourne trilogy's success; really, it's no surprise the Jeremy Renner-fronted Legacy film failed to ignite, and even less of a surprise Universal would go sniffing around in hopes of securing the pair's return.
And, though the pair had previously insisted they were uninterested in a return, something down the line appears to have changed; with Greengrass attributing changing political atmospheres for his decision to take on a fourth installment, Jason Bourne.
Damon, however, seems to provide a more generous reason for his return; that it was simply because the people demanded it. "At a certain point, I said to Paul, 'People really want to see this movie, and that’s not something to turn our noses up at,'" he told The New York Times. "Having made movies that didn’t find an audience, I didn’t want to thumb our nose at this opportunity."
Whatever the motivation, Universal are predictably delighted. Like a desperate cat, the studio's digging its claws into the duo for as long as physically possible. "Even though Matt and Paul had been very definitive about not wanting to come back, we weren’t really willing to submit to that," Universal Pictures chairwoman Donna Langley joked. "Look, here’s what I think the goal is: to keep Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass doing Bourne movies till they can’t do them anymore."
However, as many franchises have lived and died by, it's not merely a case of repeating past glories intact. "It’s this weird thing where you can’t give them exactly the same thing, or they’ll be resentful," Damon said. "But you have to give them enough of something they recognize that they feel like they’re getting what they paid for."
For one thing, it looks as if the new film will drive to be more action-orientated than its predecessor, with the revelation that Damon's Bourne has approximately 25 lines in the entire film, preferring to converse with his fists instead.
Jason Bourne hits UK cinemas 29 July.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments