Writer-director Tony Gilroy (MICHAEL CLAYTON) and Universal won’t have Damon’s renegade superspy, but are revisiting the established framework of the BOURNE franchise itself — LEGACY (which again discards everything from the novel except the title) revolves around a new rogue assassin hounded by CIA black ops and international enemies.
Who will that be? Well, Gilroy and the studio are currently on the prowl for a suitable leading man to ruin his pursuers with household objects. On the wish list are names like Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire, Garrett Hedlund (TRON LEGACY), Taylor Kitsch (JOHN CARTER OF MARS), and Kellan Lutz (TWILIGHT).
UPDATE: Deadline adds some interesting or curious names like Josh Hartnett, Michael Fassbender, Paul Dano (THERE WILL BE BLOOD), Joel Edgerton (ANIMAL KINGDOM), Oscar Isaac (ROBIN HOOD) and Benjamin Walker (ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER).
While there’s no confirmation of any actual meetings with or interest from the actors mentioned, this does make it pretty apparent that the studio is intent on going beyond the BOURNE trilogy, Damon or not — they want to get the project rolling in the next few months for a hopeful August 2012 release.