Universal has denied rumors that Matt Damon is plotting a return to the "Bourne" franchise, shooting down a report that the actor is in talks to reprise his role alongside director Paul Greengrass.
Film site Twitch got the rumor mill churning, claiming Universal has been pulling all sorts of strings to secure its onetime Jason Bourne for an epic return to the series, either in a new film all his own or a crossover flick with new "Bourne" star Jeremy Renner. The only catch, Twitch added, was that Damon was adamant that his return hinge on the return of Greengrass, too.
But Variety has debunked the story, citing a Universal source who says "there is no truth to the rumor" that negotiations with Damon or Greengrass are occurring. Even before Universal chimed in, the idea seemed unlikely, since Damon has made it clear for some time that he has no interest in diving back into the "Bourne" world.
Damon spoke to Movieline late last year about how it would be difficult for a movie featuring Jason Bourne to be made now that the new mythology of "The Bourne Legacy" -- which references Damon's character -- has been established.
"What that means, because they use our actors and characters, is that whatever they said [in 'Legacy'] is true and so we'd have to acknowledge it in any Bourne movie that we'd do. And that makes it really tough," Damon told the site, adding that while he loves the character, it would be "a real struggle to extend the franchise."
[via Variety]
