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Matt Damon has been the figurehead of the Bourne franchise since 2002, when he first starred in The Bourne Identity as the titular amnesiac assassin trying to uncover his true identity. He reprised the character of Jason Bourne three more times on the big screen, headlining 2004's The Bourne Supremacy, 2007's The Bourne Ultimatum, and 2016's Jason Bourne. He notably chose to sit out the fourth film because Paul Greengrass did not return to the director's chair. Instead, Renner stepped in as a new protagonist named Aaron Cross. However, Damon's return for the legacy sequel immediately ignited fan demand for a sixth film. 10 years later, those demands might finally be met, as the project has taken significant leaps forward behind the scenes.
The development of Bourne 6 has been in a massive state of flux for quite some time, most recently punctuated by industry whispers that Universal Pictures was considering recasting Damon with a younger actor to give the spy thriller a modern edge. Prominent insider reports suggested that the blockbuster franchise could undergo a complete creative overhaul with Zendaya in the lead role. Damon has now directly addressed the speculation, officially confirming the fate of the sixth movie while also revealing whether he will return as the action icon or abandon his assassin identity to allow someone else to take the mantle.
During a recent appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Damon clarified his position on potentially returning as Jason Bourne. He expressed immense enthusiasm about playing the character again, noting that the team is currently focused on figuring out his next mission. Oscar-winning director Edward Berger is attached to direct and oversee development on the sixth Bourne movie, bringing a fresh stylistic approach to the action-packed saga. Damon asserted that he would "love" to reprise the role for the next franchise entry, though he emphasized the importance of the script, stating that they want to recapture the energy of the original trilogy:
"I'm talking to a great director named Ed Berger. He did All Quiet on the Western Front. He's a wonderful director, and we're talking about it. We're just trying to figure out. We're trying to nail the story down because I'd love to do it. It's just that thing where, you know, if we do it, we want it to be like the first three. And it's tough because it's not built like a James Bond, where every movie is its own mission and people can even change the character, you know, the person playing Bond. It's a linear story, so it makes it more challenging to do a sequel where you're giving people what they want but also enough new stuff. It's a tricky one."
Damon's comments confirm that Berger remains on board to helm the feature should it get the green light. He was first attached to the project following his triumphant adaptation of All Quiet on the Western Front in 2022. The gripping anti-war epic became an international phenomenon, winning four Academy Awards and seven BAFTA Awards. The director solidified his reputation as an industry titan with the release of the star-studded political thriller Conclave in 2024, which earned even more accolades and critical acclaim. It sounds like he has now honed in on crafting a fresh narrative for Bourne that honors the legacy of the films without duplicating what former franchise director Greengrass (and others) have achieved with the story so far.
For the moment, Damon's immediate focus is on Christopher Nolan's mythic action epic The Odyssey, which has debuted to glowing reviews. Playing the legendary Greek king Odysseus in the film adaptation of Homer's ancient poem, Damon's transformative performance has been universally praised by critics, with many calling it a career best. The film officially opens in theaters today (Jul. 17), but by the sounds of it, he may soon be swapping his desperate quest to return home for another relentless effort to escape his past.
