It was all the buzz when it was announced earlier this week that the Bourne franchise was moving ahead with the main writer of the series taking over the reigns from Paul Greengrass who left the series after the studios reportedly developed scripts to get the next film on track sooner. Now it seems the producers and writer / director Tony Gilroy are experiencing their own form of amnesia and believe it’s okay to make another movie without it’s protagonist, Jason Bourne.
It sounds pretty crazy when you think just how popular the franchise is and just how much Matt Damon brought to the role. After the recent announcement that Tony Gilroy who penned the fourth script in June would now be taking over directing duties, most people assumed that this was a ploy to lure Matt Damon back with most of the original elements in play, sans director Greengrass. Though the star had stated on many occasions that he would only return if Paul Greengrass was at the helm; it seems nothing can change his mind, not even money.
Whilst most franchises inevitably have different directors whether by choice or by studio demands, it seems odd that Matt Damon wouldn’t want to work with another director considering Doug Liman was replaced after the Bourne identity became a hit and confirmed Damon’s action star status.
Tony Gilroy spoke recently with Hollywood elsewhere after a report by Mike Fleming at deadline fueled his need to clarify his intentions for the fourth, here’s what he had to say:
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.
Gadzukes, that all sounds like psycho babble – we get it Gilroy, the studio wants a film with the word Bourne in the title, which has nothing to do with the flawed follow up series by Eric Van Lustbader.
Gilroy continued to explain his parallel story concept which takes place in the world of Bourne.
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…
All this creative talk is really just a workaround that’s being put in place due to a lack of involvement by Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass, and whilst the production moves ahead for now there is still the possibility the studios may come to their collective senses and return the franchise to it’s true form by extending offers to the respective talent. Whilst the film is scheduled for a 2012 release, it’s still only a tentative date.
This new film could be an indeminable scourge on the franchise that will be hard to repair, and whilst the filmmakers are scrambling to make it work for obvious monetary reasons, it’s kind of like getting house painters to come in and touch up the Sistine Chapel… R.I.P Jason Bourne.
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