Earlier this week Tony Gilroy (Duplicity, Michael Clayton, writer of previous Bourne films) was hired by Universal to direct The Bourne Legacy. Details on the project weren’t initially clear and questions were raised such as the involvement of Matt Damon, and whether it would be a reboot or prequel.

Thankfully Tony Gilroy as responded to the confusion by revealing what the real plans are and they don’t involve Matt Damon, or even Jason Bourne for that matter.

From Hollywood Elsewhere:

“It’s a completely original screenplay.” Secondly, “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.

“The easiest way to think of it is an expansion or a reveal,” Gilroy says. “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 [down the road].

“Everything you saw in the first three films actually happened, and everyone who got into will be rewarded for paying attention. We’re going to show you the bigger picture, the bigger canvas. When you see what we’re going and see what we’re doing it’ll be pretty obvious….but Jason Bourne’s actvities in the first three films is the immediate trigger.”

I think this is probably the right way to go. Reboots and prequels are pretty much everywhere nowadays, but here Universal intend to continue the franchise without trying to make people forget the previous trilogy or that Matt Damon was Jason Bourne.

What do you think of these plans for The Bourne Legacy? And who should play the new ‘hero’?

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According to Deadline Tony Gilroy, who has worked on all the past Bourne scripts and has been called “the key screenwriter” behind the Bourne franchise, will direct the fourth Bourne film, currently titled The Bourne Legacy.

Gilroy, who has previously directed Duplicity and Michael Clayton, was hired to write the script back in June and Universal were obviously happy for him to direct now that Paul Greengrass has left the franchise.

But will Matt Damon return? Deadline say that Universal will make the film with or without Damon, who said earlier this year he would only return if Greengrass was directing again. But I guess if the script is good he may consider it. It would be a shame for him to leave his franchise and a new Bourne film wouldn’t be the same without the actor who has played him from the very beginning.

It was mentioned that Universal are aiming for a 2012 release, so we should be hearing about Damon’s involvement (or lack of) over the upcoming months if filming is to begin next year.

Should Matt Damon return? If not, who should play the new Jason Bourne?

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According to Deadline Universal has hired Tony Gilroy to write the script for Bourne 4. Gilroy has worked on all the past Bourne scripts and has been called “the key screenwriter” behind the Bourne franchise, so it looks like it is in good hands.

Frank Marshall and Pat Crowley are back to produce and Universal are aiming to release the film sometime in 2012. No word yet on whether Matt Damon or Paul Greengrass will be back, however.

Greengrass announced in December that he would not be returning to direct the fourth film, with speculation that it was due to a rift between Universal and himself over the hiring of writer Josh Zetumer. Matt Damon said he wouldn’t do it without Greengrass, and in February the actor said “there’ll probably be a prequel of some kind with another actor and another director before we do another one.”

I’m guessing Universal would prefer to get Greengrass and Damon back, although they may end up hiring another actor/director combo if the duo decides against returning. Greengrass has nothing lined up at the moment (so far as we know) having recently decided against directing a remake of the 1966 sci-fi movie Fantastic Voyage for James Cameron.

Do you want to see Greengrass/Damon return for Bourne 4, or would you be more interested in a prequel/reboot?

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We haven’t heard anything on Bourne 4 since Paul Greengrass decided against returning to direct. Matt Damon made it known that he wouldn’t be back without Greengrass, so that either meant Universal could somehow woo Damon into returning, or they could do that thing studios do when they want to keep the rights but can’t carry on with the original cast/director. Reboot!

“There’ll probably be a prequel of some kind with another actor and another director before we do another one,” he said, “just because I think we’re probably another five years away from doing it – we’ve got to get a script…”

That’s what Matt Damon told Empire recently at the Invictus premiere. So I guess Bourne 4 is dead. Even if Universal reboot it’s unlikely they’ll bring Damon back to make Bourne 4 when they’ve just set up a whole new set of films.

Would you have prefered a Boune 4? Or is a reboot the way to go?

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Yesterday we learned that The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum director Paul Greengrass would not be returning to direct Bourne 4, and there was speculation that it was due to a rift between Universal and himself over the hiring of writer Josh Zetumer. Well a statement from Greengrass was released by Universal and in it he explained his reasons for leaving.

“Jason Bourne existed before me and will continue, and I hope to remain involved in some capacity as the series moves on,” said Greengrass in a statement released by Universal on Tuesday. “You won’t find a more devoted supporter of the ‘Bourne’ franchise than me.”

“I will always be grateful to have been the caretaker to Jason Bourne over the course of ‘The Bourne Supremacy’ and ‘The Bourne Ultimatum’”, Greengrass said. “I’m very proud of those films and feel they express everything I most passionately believe about the possibility of making quality movies in the mainstream.

“My decision to not return a third time as director is simply about feeling the call for a different challenge. There’s been no disagreement with Universal Pictures. The opportunity to work with the Bourne family again is a difficult thing to pass up, but we have discussed this together and they have been incredibly understanding and supportive. I’ve been lucky enough to have made four films for Universal, and our relationship continues.”

Variety speculate that if Matt Damon is happy with Bourne 3 writer George Nolfi, who left writing duties on Bourne 4 to direct The Adjustment Bureau which also stars Damon, then Nolfi may be a candidate to direct the next Bourne instalment. They also think that Tony Gilroy, who co-wrote Bourne 3 and directed Duplicity which starred Julia Roberts and Clive Owen, may also have a chance of directing.

Alternately, Universal could reboot the franchise. Just about every other franchise is being rebooted nowadays so there’s nothing stopping them. I’m sure they’d prefer Matt Damon to return though.

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Back in April we heard that Universal were aiming for Bourne 4 to hit the big screen in summer 2011 and a script was being written by George Nolf, co-writer of The Bourne Ultimatum. However, according to The Playlist the hiring of a new writer a few months ago, Josh Zetumer, may have annoyed director Paul Greengrass, as he has apparently left the project.

Greengrass, who has been busy toiling away on “Green Zone,” was not consulted by Universal in the hiring of a new writer. This obviously did not make him happy, but that’s only part of the issue that’s been ongoing for some time.

Matt Damon has already said that “Green Zone,” another Universal film that Greengrass directed, cost $100 million to make. But the price tag of this Iraq War-set thriller is actually close to $150 million — Greengrass has reshot several times (gets expensive) and has been tinkering away in the editing room for months spending Universal’s money and testing their patience.

Considering everything Greengrass did with the Bourne franchise, he hasn’t been happy how he’s been treated on “Green Zone” and how hard the studio has been riding him. It seems like the straw has finally broken the camel’s back.

So right now, they’re citing “creative differences” and we expect this to hit the trades at any moment.

It’s unlikely that Matt Damon would do Bourne 4 without Greengrass so it’s pretty unlikely the film with go ahead. Unless, of course, Universal and Greengrass kiss and make up.

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Back in April we heard that Universal were aiming for a Bourne 4 summer 2011 release and a draft of the script should be finished by June. Well it is now the end of July and according to Matt Damon they still don’t have a script.

From Sci-Fi Wire:

“I just saw [producer] Frank Marshall, and we were talking about it,” Damon said in a group interview today in Pasadena, Calif., where he was promoting his History Channel special The People Speak. “Then I’ve talked to [Bourne Supremacy and Ultimatum director] Paul Greengrass quite a bit about that.”

During press rounds for Ultimatum, Damon and Greengrass joked that a fourth film would have to be called The Bourne Redundancy, because the character has already found his identity. For his part, Damon says he’s interested in reprising the action-hero role, but won’t commit before confirming the quality of the script.

“Oh yeah, we won’t do it unless it’s good,” Damon added. “Promise.”

The literary world was able to continue the Bourne series even after Ludlum’s death: Eric Van Lustbader wrote The Bourne Betrayal, The Bourne Deception, The Bourne Legacy and The Bourne Sanction. “I didn’t read those,” Damon said.

Since a script is still a long way off, Damon has not had to hit the gym to get back into fighting shape. He will, when the time comes, if necessary, he said. “Not yet,” he said. “None us have kind of seen [a script] yet, and Paul’s still cutting a movie that we worked on, so we’ll get together and talk about it.”

George Nolfi has been hired to write the script, so he could be working on it as we speak. Aslong as they get things going during 2010 they should hit their 2011 spot.

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Frank Marshall, who is currently working on The Last Airbender, spoke to ComingSoon.net about a few films that are currently in the pipeline. Marshall produced the entire Bourne trilogy and he gave a small update on the status of Bourne 4, which was announced last October.

“We’d like to shoot next year,” he told us. “It’s trying to get everybody’s schedules in the right place and getting the script right. We’ve done pretty well with these scripts that are pretty loosely put together, but I’d like the script to be really solid this time before we go forward. We’re spending a lot of time on this story.”

He was also asked about Jurassic Park 4, which has been on and off for years. In the past we have heard rumours of it revolving around the extinction and another about dinosaurs with guns attached to them, however it seems those ideas have been scrapped.

“We just have to see if they can come up with a story. We don’t have a story.”

I don’t think we will get to see Jurassic Park 4 for a while, if ever, which is a shame as we haven’t had a good dinosaur movie in years.

Lastly, he spoke about The NeverEnding Story which Warner Bros. announced they would be rebooting in February.

“We love the book and we’ve always thought there was an opportunity (because) there were a lot of elements in the book that weren’t in the movie. It’s another one where we’re still working on the rights and it’s a huge thing to get it. Once we get it, we’ll bring on a writer, but that’s kind of off in the distance. But it’s a great story.”

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Frank Marshall, producer of the Bourne trilogy, updated his Twitter profile with the following messages:

Bourne4 is in the works for Summer 2011…

George Nolfi is the writer of Bourne4, should have a draft by June.

If they keep on target this would mean Bourne 4 should start filming sometime next year. Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass have already signed up to return, and George Nolfi wrote The Bourne Ultimatum so we can expect a film as good as the previous ones.

With producers, directors and actors revealing information on Twitter we can expect more of these mini updates.

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Universal have got themselves the exclusive rights to the Jason Bourne character and first look at other Robert Ludlum novels, according to Variety.

The deal with Ludlum Entertainment paves the way for more installments in the Bourne saga, which was originally envisioned as a three-picture series but has become Universal’s answer to James Bond.

After the first three films grossed a total of more than $1 billion worldwide, Universal signed Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass for a fourth film that George Nolfi is writing. The film is expected to be readied for the summer of 2010.

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