Matt Damon on “Bourne” 4: He’s Waiting Out Dispute

Star Matt Damon tells me he isn’t going ahead with the fourth “Bourne” movie without director Paul Greengrass.

“I’m waiting for Paul,” Damon told me last night at the “Invictus” premiere for the Museum of the Moving Image. “And he’ll come back when there’s a script.”

Greengrass reportedly quit the fourth installment of the “Bourne” saga this week. The reason? A disagreement with Universal Pictures about the screenplay written by Damon pal George Nolfi. Universal was said to be commissioning another script. That’s when Greengrass balked and walked. Now Damon seems like he’s out, too.

Oh well, you know it will all be worked out soon, especially if Matt holds out. Universal needs a new “Bourne” for summer 2011.

Greengrass previously directed “The Bourne Supremacy” and “The Bourne Ultimatum.” Doug Liman directed “The Bourne Identity.” All of the films are based on novels by the late great Robert Ludlum, who must be smiling from heaven that his novels have become permanent hits. He died in 2001 at age 73.