Universal Chooses Jeremy Renner For 'The Bourne Legacy'

[Rappy Veteran]

The search is over. Universal Pictures has formally offered Jeremy Renner the lead role in the Tony Gilroy-directed The Bourne Legacy. Renner, who has been nominated for Oscars the past two years for his work in The Hurt Locker and The Town, is expected to sign on quickly to play a new character in the spinoff film that begins production in September. Like the Jason Bourne character played by Matt Damon in the first three The Bourne Identity thrillers, Renner will play an operative from a covert government program that is even more dangerous than the Treadstone brainwashing program that hatched Bourne.

Renner was one of the names rumored as the studio went through two cycles of tests over eight weeks to find the right guy. That decision was made today. Even though Renner plays an operative in the upcoming Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol, the studio felt clearly that he was in a position similar to where Damon was when his career took off with Bourne. Renner is not a kid, but he is really hitting his stride and poised to become a big star after numerous strong performances.

The studio looked closely at a number of up and coming stars, and tested the likes of Joel Edgerton (The Thing), Dominic Cooper (The Devil's Double), Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy) and Luke Evans (The Amateur American). Other names in the mix included Taylor Kitsch and Anthony Mackie.

http://www.deadline.com/2011/04/universal-chooses-jeremy-renner-for-the-bourne-legacy/

[OfF3nSiV3]

i really hope the plot is worthy

[George P Global Moderator]

So a spinoff? What happened to talks about a 4th sequel or something?

[DocM]

Yes, a spinoff using the original series name as a hook.

Bourne: The Next Generation ;)

[Unix2]

Without Matt Daemon, I am not interested. :angry:

[Gromit]

I think my favourite film with him in would be Swat over hurtlocker, was never such a big fan of that film.

But I think it'll be weird with a new Jason Bourne, will be hard to best Matt Damon.

[Corris Veteran]

Seems a little silly to me having a Bourne film without Bourne, would be like having a film titles Harry Potter that didn't have him in, lol.

[Noveed]

Seems like they want to milk it but without Matt Damon :( I do not see this being a hit without Bourne himself :laugh:

[George P Global Moderator]

Ya, i don't see this turning out well now. Bummer.

[burnsflipper]

So a spinoff? What happened to talks about a 4th sequel or something?

Paul Greengrass isn't interested in direct it, whitout Greengrass, Damon won't come back :(

I just hope they keep the tone of the other ones, although for me the trilogy will always be the best.

The chases, the fights, the exotic locations, the John Powell score. and that iconic Moby song at the end :wub: Tony Gilroy has one hell of a challenge ahead.

[ambushed]

Well Jason Bourne is allegedly America's answer to James Bond so changing the lead every few movies would be keeping it the same footsteps. Though not sure i really believe that.

[MrArifPatel]

I doubt it will turnout well without Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon, hope it don't ruin the Bourne name, the trilogy as it currently stands is amongst my personal favourites.

[Rappy Veteran]

Rachel Weisz in talks for Bourne Legacy

What a nice dilemma to have. Just last week, Deadline reported that Rachel Weisz was in talks with Walt Disney Studios for Oz: The Great And Powerful, to be directed by Sam Raimi. But now I've learned that Rachel is in even deeper talks to star opposite Jeremy Renner in Universal Pictures' latest in the Bourne franchise. I hope she can do both pics, but she may not be able to: the Tony Gilroy-directed The Bourne Legacy starts shooting in September, and Oz is planned to go into production this summer. In the Bourne spinoff, two-time Oscar nominee Renner (The Hurt Locker, The Town) will play a new character: an operative from a covert government program that is even more dangerous than the Treadstone brainwashing program that hatched Bourne. Renner is not a kid, and Weisz would be a compatible co-star.

http://www.deadline.com/2011/05/rachel-weisz-in-deep-talks-for-bourne-gal/

[LiquidSolstice]

Matt Damon was the true Bourne, won't be the same without him :(

[Crazysah]

Matt Damon was the true Bourne, won't be the same without him :(

100% true though I really like Jeremy Renner. This may just turn out to be half as good as the Bourne series. If that happens, I'm going to be watching it for sure!

[Nick H. Supervisor]

I like Jeremy Renner, and Rachel Weisz, so I'll probably end up watching this. It's just a shame that they had to go and give it the Bourne name.

[Growled Member]

Matt Damon was the true Bourne, won't be the same without him :(

I agree but I will give the new film a chance. It might be good too, you never know.

[Rappy Veteran]

[Lqv2015]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVPpc4pk6RE

[#Michael]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVPpc4pk6RE

Damn you....I just found it on itunes trailers and was going to post it.

[Cute James]

Wow, this actually looks bloody good.

[dead.cell]

Well Jason Bourne is allegedly America's answer to James Bond so changing the lead every few movies would be keeping it the same footsteps. Though not sure i really believe that.

Well that can't be right. See I actually like the Bourne trilogy... :p

[Lqv2015]

Renner is in 2 of this year blockbuster after just having been in MI4. He should send gifts to Kathryn Bigelow every month.