Matt Damon Will Not Return For Bourne 5
No Jeremy Renner/Matt Damon team-up happening this time.
It's been confirmed by Bourne producer Frank Marshall that actor Matt Damon will not be returning as Jason Bourne for the fifth installment in the series of espionage action films. Damon starred in the original three films, based on the novels by Robert Ludlum, helping to make them an international success that changed the face of spy thrillers. Jeremy Renner replaced Damon as the face of the franchise for the fourth film, 2012's The Bourne Legacy. In it he starred as Aaron Cross, a government operative who is part of a shadowy special ops program. Marshall told The Hollywood Reporter: It's simply not true, adding that director Justin Lin is working with Andrew Baldwin on an Aaron Cross script/story that they pitched us a few months ago. I talk to Justin all the time and the script is not ready. It's a summer movie, and if we don't start pre-production now, we can't make next summer. Therefore, it's a wise decision to move to 2016, the producer said. It's a particular blow to those wanting to see Damon back as Marshall had previously stated that his dream for the next Bourne film is to see Matt and Jeremy team up. For Damon the sticking point appears to be that he would only return if Paul Greengrass - who directed the two later films in the original Bourne trilogy - was taking the helm. The next installment in the Bourne franchise is scheduled for release in July 2016.