Jeff Wells has some clarification from Tony Gilroy himself regarding the recent news he signed on to direct his own script for The Bourne Legacy, the fourth film in the franchise. Gilroy co-wrote The Bourne Identity and played a part in both of its sequels and has gone on to pen this fourth film, but amidst speculation of Matt Damon’s return and the source material for the new film based on Robert Ludlum’s series of books, Gilroy is out to set the record straight.
First off it sounds like Damon isn’t coming back, as Gilroy tells Hollywood Elsewhere, “It’s a completely original screenplay. This is not a reboot or a recast or a prequel. No one’s replacing Matt Damon. There will be a whole new hero, a whole new chapter…this is a stand-alone project.”
He continues saying, “The easiest way to think of it is an expansion or a reveal. Jason Bourne will not be in this film, but he’s very much alive. What happened in the first three films is the trigger for what happens. I’m building a legend and an environment and a wider conspiracy…the world we’re making enhances and advances and invites Jason Bourne’s return [down the road].
“Everything you saw in the first three films actually happened, and everyone who got into [it] will be rewarded for paying attention. We’re going to show you the bigger picture, the bigger canvas. When you see what we’re going and see what we’re doing it’ll be pretty obvious….but Jason Bourne’s actvities in the first three films is the immediate trigger.”
I don’t know about you, but this has me actually excited for this film considering I think we all agree the Jason Bourne character’s story had run its course.
