Over the past couple of weeks I watched (yet again) the five films featuring superspy/assassin Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) in four of them, and superspy/assassin Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner) in one. I absolutely love this series, and since the door was left open at the end of the fifth film, Jason Bourne (2016), I decided to check into the possibility of a sequel, something that I also did last year. The verdict? In true Hollywood fashion, it boils down to two words: who knows?
JASON BOURNE EXODUS
You can find the above title on the IMDb website, with a notation that its previous title was The Bourne Dilemma. There is even a one-paragraph synopsis: “Jason Bourne’s past resurfaces, forcing him back into the dangerous world of espionage. As he confronts old ghosts and new enemies, he must make a critical choice that could destroy everything he’s fought for.”
Does that mean it’s for sure going to happen? I refer to my earlier verdict: who knows?
A few months ago Universal Pictures’ rights to the Bourne franchise expired, although the studio still has the option to renew it. The estate of Robert Ludlum, author of the original novels, has been putting out feelers to other studios, including Netflix, Apple Studios, and Paramount. As yet, nothing is set in stone.
As for Matt Damon, who will turn 55 later this year, he has made no commitment to reprising his role. If this tentatively goes forward, and he declines, will the studio that picks up the franchise even produce the film? Or will they think, like me—and maybe you—that Damon IS Jason Bourne, and scrap the project?
To reiterate: who knows?