The Bourne Legacy was released during August 2012 with a change in its headlining star from Matt Damon to Jeremy Renner. Jason Bourne still featured of course, however this was handled though background news references and primarily left as context for this film. Legacy certainly didn’t set the box office on fire with worldwide numbers of approximately $276 million but that doesn’t appear to have left Universal Pictures with any reluctance to keep the franchise moving.
Production on a fifth Bourne film is reported to have begun with Anthony Peckham assigned to produce a script that will continue the story of Aaron Cross portrayed by Jeremy Renner. Peckham’s recent works have included screenplays of Sherlock Holmes and Invictus, both released in 2009.
No mention in terms of who might direct a fifth Bourne film, Tony Gilroy was a writer on the Jason Bourne trilogy before stepping up to direct the fourth installment, given Legacy’s luke warm reception Paramount could be on the lookout for a new director. Further to that any promise of a return of Matt Damon to the franchise also seems to still be unlikely, we’ll just have to wait and see but without Paul Greengrass on board Matt Damon has been adamant that he wouldn’t consider coming back.
