Matt Damon Not Back For The Bourne Legacy, Story Not Derived From Ludlum’s Novel Of The Same Name

Here comes some intriguing clarification on just what the deal will be with Tony Gilroy’s The Bourne Legacy, the fourth film in Universal’s key franchise of recent years. It seems like my hunch was right when I said:

There’s something about the title, about that word Legacy, which suggests (just a little) [Damon] may not be wanted and that we’ll be picking up the story with a new protagonist in the aftermath of the original three films.

The film’s writer-director Tony Gilroy got in touch with Jeff Wells to explain how this new film will relate to the earlier three. You can read the full quotes at Hollywood Elsewhere, but here are the key bits:

  • It’s a “completely original screenplay” that shares only its title with Eric van Lustbader’s book.
  • “This is not a reboot or a recast or a prequel. No one’s replacing Matt Damon. There will be a whole new hero”
  • “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.”
  • But – and here’s the cleverest bit – the storyline does pave the way for “Jason Bourne’s return” in a possible subsequent picture.
  • “Everyone who got into [the earlier films] will be rewarded for paying attention. We’re going to show you the bigger picture, the bigger canvas.”

I was interested before. Now I’m absolutely fascinated.