The Huffington Post gives us:
Matt Damon’s time as the star of the “Bourne Identity” series is over, and the search for his successor is over, the Latino Review reports. The site reports that a source indicated that “The Town” and “The Hurt Locker” star Jeremy Renner has been offered the lead role in the next generation of Bourne movies, starting with “The Bourne Legacy.”
If true, Renner is a strong, experienced choice, but not one that had been rumored to be on director Tony Gilroy’s shortlist in February. Then, potential Bourne 2.0 stars included Jake Gyllenhaal, Garrett Hedlund, Taylor Kitsch, Kellen Lutz and Tobey Maguire.
I’m somewhat skeptical on this. It’s not that I don’t like Renner, I do. It’s the notion that after two Oscar nominations, the actor’s plate is full. On top of that, one role is in another spy franchise- Mission Impossible : Ghost Protocol. That’s my only reservation. Other than the character of Jason Bourne will not be in The Bourne Legacy of course. Now, granted, the Legacy role will be technically a different character tthan the one in Protocol. I also would not mind if, after Protocol, Renner plated a different character but squared off against Matt Damon’s Bourne. But there’s no Bourne, and there is doubts on my part.
What say you, int’l friends?
If Matt Damon isnt in this movie i’m not watching it. Matt Damon is Jason Bourne hence the title “Bourne legacy”. I’m dissapointed.
You do realize the irony considering Jason Bourne turned out to not even be the character’s real name?
But why limit yourself. There is no reason they can’t expand the story in the setting they have created. Sure they wont really be dealing with Jason Bourne, but the whole Treadstone program that resulted in his condition had other sleeper agents as well. Those agents fighting against the conditioning they received IS the legacy left by Jason Bourne.
Tron Legacy didn’t even really include the character of Tron (not directly) but it was the legacy of Flynn and Tron that made the sequel title make sense.
It must be Matt.
I like renner did ever since I seen dahlmer
but if this is a bourne movie it has to be Matt Damon I loved all the bourne films and if they take away damon i think it just wont work well no mtter who the cast to replace him.
I still wish it was Matt Damon but this guy could be a good choice.
Bourne is kind of a nondiscript character, he is a kind of non entity and so for me it’s hard to fill a role that is so vague and generic.
I think that Renner is already overrated, his Oscar nominated turn in The Town wasn’t standout for me and he is in the same mould as Matt Damon….surely they need to go to someone completely different for a new franchise, like shia leboeuf? The average film goer will probably get very tired of him with the new Mission Impossible film as well, could be tricky.
Now Shia is overrated! I don’t see him as Bourne. Shia has been in way more stuff as Renner and most of it popcorn fare. The public would get tired of Shia before Renner. Plus the whole time while watching Shia as Bourne we’d all be waiting for a transformer to pop up and save the day. Bourne needs a subtle actor like Damon or Renner. Shia always seems hyper or frantic in his roles, even the one’s that don’t call for that type of performance.
If Damon doesn’t return, then this is IDEAL.
I think Jeremy Renner is a great choice for this Bourne series….
He’ll simply pick up what Matt Damon left off.
Darren you make a good point, if he’s in the new Mission Impossible movie and then stars as the next Bourne agent, that would be quite a tough sell to movie goers. I like Renner. I think he’d be a great choice if he wasn’t in the Misson Impossible movie. I’m with you though I think this isn’t going to happen. Just bring Matt Damon back one more time.
How about Bradley Cooper? I think a large part of what worked for Damon the first go round was that he didn’t have much, if any, action film experience and it helped his character seem deceivingly harmless.
Bradley Cooper has been an action hero in the A-Team…the new Bourne franchise has to find an established dramatic actor who will bring to the role what Liam Neeson very suprisingly bought to Taken.
Your Right! He has been in A-team! I think we’re on the same page with wanting someone new to the genre.
I was not at all surprised by what Liam Neeson brought to Taken.
He has always had an intimidating presence.
I think Damon worked due to his acting ability, he brought a vulnerability to Bourne through his performance. Even though Bourne was a trained bad ass, Damon’s accessibility kept the character relatable. I also like the fact that Damon wasn’t some tall, chisled, overly handsome guy either. Most well trained military guys are of average height and build. Renner also is of average height and built and has that everyman face, he also is a great actor not unlike Damon. He’d be ideal but it may not happen. I love Bradley Cooper and think he has a bright future as a leading man not unlike Redford or Pitt. I don’t he’s right for Bourne though. He looks more like the Bond type to me.
Wow. This is not good. I like Renner but Damon and Bourne are joined at the hip. I have to admit when Damon first took on the role I was a bit concerned but he pulled off and now I can’t picture Bourne not with Damon. FAIL.
It would be like back in the 70s have some one replacing Conorey as Bond. Or Batman changing it could work if done right.