Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Matt Damon, Paul Greengrass Do the Unthinkable: Return to Bourne

Share

Director Paul Greengrass and star Matt Damon are returning to the world of Robert Ludlum. Deadline’s Mike Fleming got the scoop today that the pair will re-team finally for a third Bourne movie even after Greengrass said he’d never come back. (I think it was Wilson Pickett who sang something like Don’t let the Greengrass fool you…)

If you’re trying to remember what happened here, a little recap might help. Doug Liman directed Damon in “The Bourne Identity” in 2002. Greengrass stepped in and made “The Bourne Supremacy” and “The Bourne Ultimatum” in 2004 and 2007 with Damon. But then Greengrass got into it with Universal. When they couldn’t reach a financial arrangement for a fourth movie, Greengrass and Damon went off and made “Green Zone.” That didn’t work out. But then Greengrass had a huge hit with “Captain Phillips.” Now he’s back in the game.

Of course, in between all that, came Tony Gilroy’s “Bourne Legacy” in 2012 starring Jeremy Renner. Renner and director Justin Lin were supposed to start another Bourne movie soon. But now Greengrass and Damon will cross them out. Hopefully, Renner and Lin will get to make their film sometime too.

In Hollywood, never again means always — maybe. Greengrass was adamant about not returning to “Bourne.” Damon was steadfast about not making a “Bourne” movie without Greengrass. But now, here we are. Never just meant “wait four years.”

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

Read more

In Other News