When it came time to work on a fourth BOURNE film, there were some issues with the project. Initially in 2009 there was no script, but Matt Damon wanted to start filming in 2011. A couple of months later, Paul Greengrass dropped out of directing the BOURNE films, and with him Damon went. The actor then let everyone know that the next film would probably take place with another actor, not playing the same role.
Before Damon gave it up, he went to Jonathan Nolan to get some help with the next story. Nolan didn’t wind up coming up with anything either, and to be fair, he was busy with other projects (PERSON OF INTEREST, BATMAN). Damon talked about the potential pairing with Deadline during an interview for the upcoming, PROMISED LAND:
DEADLINE: Matt, you’ve said recently that the Bourne Legacy spinoff didn’t make it any easier for Jason Bourne to return. What has to happen for us to see your signature character back onscreen?
DAMON: Just a couple things, really. Paul Greengrass has to want to do it, and secondly and equally important, it comes down to Paul and I knowing what the hell we want to do. We just don’t have a story, and we haven’t had one. I quietly went to Jonah Nolan, because he and his brother Chris did such a brilliant job on Batman and that whole mythology. I just said, can you put your brain on this? I can’t figure it out. And he took a run at it and he couldn’t crack it either. Paul and I have been talking about it for years. And we can’t quite see what the movie would be. If we could get line of sight on that…
DEADLINE: We are force-fed so many unnecessary sequels, and here is a smart thriller that we actually want to see more of…
DAMON: Neither of us is against it. I would love to do another one. I love that character. To me, the reason to make that movie is because people want to see it. Paul and I have said that to each other. We don’t take for granted the fact that we’ve built an audience for Bourne, that’s a real privilege. But our part of that bargain is that the movie is good and belongs with the other three. Until we can deliver that, we just can’t make it.