Who will be the next Bourne

The news surrounding the Jason Bourne franchise is that they want to ~~reboot~~/reinvent things with another lead taking over for star Matt Damon. Now instead I’m hearing the word “spin-off” with a laundry list of names in the runnings for the lead.

Source: Deadline

Here are the names I’ve heard have met with Gilroy or are otherwise in the mix: Joel Edgerton, Josh Hartnett, Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire, Paul Dano, Michael Pitt, Oscar Isaac, Garrett Hedlund, Michael Fassbender, Luke Evans, Alex Pettyfer, Taylor Kitsch, Benjamin Walker.

Tobey? Really? I don’t know half the names on this list. I know a few here and there, but none that give confidence in the portrayal of a super spy except maybe the recently made ‘cool’ Michael Fassbender. We’re obviously getting sequels whether they’re, arguably, needed or not so who on this list do you think would make the next great super spy?

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Sean

Personally I too would rather not see any continuation of the series. In saying that if they are dead set on this then I wouldn’t mind Michael Fassbender cast as Bourne. He’s a versatile actor who would probably do justice to the role.

Also having just viewed Limitless I believe Bradley Cooper hasn’t done any harm in gaining a nod for the part either. Before that film I wouldn’t have even considered him but he surprised me. As an outside bet I think you could but your money on worse actors.
- http://www.google.com/ Ranessa
  
  It’s really great that people are sharing this ionfrmiaton.
http://movieinforama.blogspot.com clambake

I think most people think of Matt Damon as Jason Bourne. Fans of the films will most likey not appreciate another actor trying to step into the role. Sometimes it’s just better to retire a character and move onto the next thing.
http://www.themoviescene.co.uk Andy

For me I don’t really want any continuation of the Bourne movies be it a new person playing Bourne or some way of tenuously linking to the stories. But if we must have some sort of sequel/ spin-off movie then I would want an unknown in the lead rather than some established actor. At least that way it would stand the greater chance of feeling at least a little bit fresh.
huckleberry muckelroy

The whole Bourne industry has little to do with the excellent books, which were about the very real Carlos the Jackal. By the time they got around to shooting the movies, Carlos had been captured on the operating table of a bootleg liposuction clinic. So Carlos got written out of the plot.
Of all the actor’s names mentioned, the only one that stirs me is Michael Pitt. I think he can do menace and sympathy, and can out-Bourne Matt Damon.
http://darrenjameseeley.wordpress.com/ Darren

“Reboot’ is the wrong word to use, Anthony. In fact- the idea is that none of the actors are playing Bourne. THe spy character will have connections in the past series, Bourne has some indirect impact- as the name itself is only an alias.

Right now they are calling ‘spinoff’, but if that’s the case I suspect than unless supporting actors from past films are brought in (Joan Allen or Édgar Ramírez would be the best bet) it would get a title change, a bit of reworking and be either independent of the Bourne franchise altogether or adapt the books a bit more - instead of just using the main character’s name and the title.

Which brings us to the list of names and the reaction….which actually surprises me- not in a negative as in this is The Wish List, but a negative as to how a movie fan response.

I’m baffled.

The idea in casting Damon in the first film was that he wasn’t supposed to look like, say, well, Mark Wahlberg from ‘Shooter’ (which was superior in quality but failed at the box office) y’know?

In any case, I like reaching out to Josh Hartlett, and Michael Fassbender as well to chase him down.
- http://www.goosenips.com Anthony
  
  I agree. “reboot” could be confusing.
MadMax_007

What the heck are you talkin bout Anthony?! Most of these guys on this list have more “street cred” than what Matt Damon had BEFORE becoming Bourne, even Tobey (see him in Brothers). Arnold Schwarzeneggar even cracked a few jokes at Damon from being the sweet, nerdy, romantic type of movie guy to all-of-a-sudden becoming a badass, action-hero, super spy. Jus Sayin

But I still wish for Matt Damon to reprise his role of Jason Bourne one last time and have him battle super bad-ass terrorist Carlos like in the novels.
- http://www.goosenips.com Anthony
  
  Maybe they do have the ‘street cred’ that I just don’t know about (which would be a great thing!) I think I’m having the same type of skepticism/apprehension I had when Damon was first announced way back when the series first started. Nothing wrong if they prove me wrong.
- http://www.judymoodymovie.com Rodney
  
  I don’t know how much “street cred” you think Damon had, but before Bourne, Damon already had School Ties, Chasing Amy, Dogma, The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Legend of Bagger Vance, Finding Forrester, and Ocean’s Eleven (which he was big enough to have to take a pay cut to be involved with) among other less notable films. 20 some credits before he was ever in a Bourne film.
  
  Not too shabby for some “unknown guy” who was already a badass long before Bourne.
  - MadMax_007
    
    Street cred in ACTION MOVIES or roles in which he is a bad-ass mofo. That’s what I’m talkin about Rod, not sappy dramas. I thought you would get what I was trying to say with the Schwarzenegger comment. The closest thing he was to a badass before Bourne was in Dogma, but I couldn’t take him seriously in that flick. I mentioned Tobey in Brothers cuz he was fuckin psycho and his performance in that impressed me.
  - http://www.judymoodymovie.com Rodney
    
    So his soldier role in Courage Under Fire and his streetwise brawled in Goodwill Hunting and the warrior angel Loki in Dogma were not tough enough? Those were before Bourne.
  - MadMax_007
    
    His soldier role in Courage Under Fire was barely noticed, I mentioned Dogma in my previous post, and I’ve never seen Goodwill Hunting. But now I’m inclined to see it thanx to you Rodney!
    
    BTW, a couple of GREAT examples of actors who’ve recently gained street cred just so I’m understood better are: Adrien Brody for Predators and Jake Gyllenhaal for Prince of Persia
    Seriously, who knew these two skinny dudes(who were usually in wuss roles) could buff up and be badass leads in huge action vehicles!?
  - knossis
    
    This is all just acting, none of these guys has street cred.The fact that Damon can play so many different characters and do them all justice just means he’s a damn fine actor. Arnold can’t hold his jock strap in that regard. Damon was a badass as Bourne, he made the role his own. He’s an actor’s actor. Loved his portrayal in True Grit also. An actors ability to play tough doesn’t mean he’s a tough guy in real life. Acting is making us believe you’re a badass.
  - http://www.judymoodymovie.com Rodney
    
    Agreed. Ironically Natalie Portman looks pretty badass in Your Highness (which is the part I look forward to most) and I wouldnt have thought that Keira Knightly could be badass on screen until Domino.
    
    But even Gyllenhaal, who was Donnie Darko, and pretty badass in Highway, as well as Jarhead. Hardly the “skinny guy”.
    
    I must be misunderstanding your definition of “street cred in action films” when the examples you give are so far all actors who have had a history of being believable as tough characters on screen.
Mister Mortombachman

I don’t see any good reason to continue this series. Why not just make a new series rather than just a spin off?
- http://www.judymoodymovie.com Rodney
  
  A spinoff with new characters would be a new series.
  
  There is a lot more going on than just the situation with one agent here, a lot of opportunities for an expanded world of new content.
  - fritzilla
    
    I think what he means is a new set of movies, as in a new franchise, not a Bourne spin off.
    
    I agree. The series was great. Had heart and soul and it wrapped up the story, with the whole thing be exposed and crashing down at the end.
    
    Part of the allure was watching as the one assasin that forgot his past began to remember. You can’t pull off that story again unless the audience is led to believe another agent hit his head and forgot his past.
    
    So the gimmick, which was portrayed well over three good movies, is played.
    
    I think what they want is a franchise like the Bond movies, that can just go and go and go. I am not so interested myself.
420BAND

Loved the first one, 2nd had a awesome car chase but left me a little unsatisfied, and part 3 was decent.

I think I’m full.

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