It’s been some time since Matt Damon made his last big screen appearance as Jason Bourne in director Paul Greengrass’ Robert Ludlum adaptation, The Bourne Ultimatum, in 2007. Although the franchise has moved forward in the actor’s absence, casting Jeremy Renner as the lead in The Bourne Legacy, Damon today reiterates to CNBC what he’s been saying for years. He’s willing to return to the franchise, but only with Greengrass on board and with the right screenplay.
“I’ve always been open to it if Paul Greengrass is the director,” Damon says. “We’ve just never been able to come up with a story… It felt like such a good way to end it last time. Having said that, I love that character. I’d love to see what happened to him.”
Greengrass and Damon reteamed for a non-Bourne thriller in 2009 with The Green Zone. Since then, Greengrass went on to helm last year’s Captain Phillips with Tom Hanks, which earned six Academy Award Nominations.
It was announced last summer that Universal was looking at continuing the franchise with a fifth big screen entry featuring Renner’s Aaron Cross. A new agent introduced in Legacy, Cross had been enhanced medically to be smarter and stronger than other agents as part of Operation Outcome until he was targeted for termination.
Damon does offer a tongue-in-cheek solution for those that would like to see Jason Bourne back in the spotlight.
“[I]f any of your viewers have a story,” he says, “please call Universal and submit it.”
If you’ve got a great idea about where to take the Bourne franchise next, share it below!
