The trend of resurrecting beloved franchises is in Hollywood to stay as we’ve just learned that a new Jason Bourne movie is in its early stages of development, according to Deadline. Academy Award-winning director Edward Berger, known for his work on the World War I hit, All Quiet on the Western Front, is set to oversee and direct the production. With the production still in its infancy, a script is yet to be developed. However, fans will be thrilled to learn that discussions include the potential return of Matt Damon, who portrayed the iconic CIA assassin in 4 out of the 5 films that currently make up the spy thriller franchise. Producers still view Damon as the ideal choice for the role and plan to approach him for negotiations once a script is ready.
The Jason Bourne film series is a set of action-packed spy thriller movies based on Robert Ludlum‘s novels about the character Jason Bourne. Bourne is a highly skilled and trained government operative suffering from amnesia who becomes hunted by the government, which seeks to eliminate him at all costs. The first film, The Bourne Identity released in 2000 was an instant success that made an action star out of its lead man. Damon would go on to reprise the role in two more films – The Bourne Supremacy, and The Bourne Ultimatum. He skipped the fourth film, The Bourne Legacy which centered on a new character, Aaron Cross played Jeremy Renner but returned for the fifth installment, Jason Bourne released in 2016.
This isn’t the first time discussions about another Bourne film have sprung up, as producer Frank Marshall indicated in 2020 that talks for a sixth film were ongoing, emphasizing that the franchise required a visionary who could bring a fresh perspective. Berger ticked the right boxes, it would seem, which is unsurprising given he’s become quite an in-demand director following the massive critical success of All Quiet On The Western Front. The film which was released straight to Netflix following its premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, was a critical darling, receiving 8 Academy Awards nominations and winning 4, including for Best International Film. Nevertheless, stepping into the Bourne series presents a significant challenge for Berger, given his limited experience with productions of this magnitude. Additionally, the waning fan enthusiasm evident in the last two films poses a considerable hurdle in reigniting interest once more.
The ‘Jason Bourne’ Franchise Was A Massive Success For Universal
The Jason Bourne films set themselves apart from other spy thriller films of its time and, as such, became a darling of the genre. Rather than relying on heavy CGI use, these films opted for a traditional method, executing their stunts to infuse a raw, heightened sense of realism. All 5 films were made on a combined budget of $520 million and grossed over $1.6 billion, making it a hugely successful commercial venture for Universal. Along with the Fast and Furious franchise, the Jason Bourne films remain one of Universal‘s most beloved IPs, and fans would certainly be anticipating the franchise’s new direction. Stay tuned to Collider for more.
via Collider