The Bourne Legacy Targeting August 2012 Release
Wed, October 20, 2010 
I'm cool with Tony Gilroy expanding the Bourne universe without the ex-spy himself showing up in The Bourne Legacy.
But I guarantee audiences will be livid paying their $10 (or whatever it costs in your neck of the woods, I don't know!) for a Jason Bourne movie and, low and behold, he never pops up. Universal has to be aware of this, right?
"TOLDJA" says Universal is gunning for the Gilroy-directed fourth installment to be out by August 2012. Additionally (and confirming the obvious, by this point), Matt Damon most certainly isn't showing up for Legacy. But the key players involved remain hopeful he might return down the road – possibly for Bourne 5. That's assuming he wavers his "I won't do it with Paul Greengrass" stance. The man deserves epic props for loyalty.
This approach of bringing in a new hero (said to be another agent in the vein of Mr. Bourne) will only work commercially if the filmmakers' net a big-name in the role. At least there, you've got someone to lure the audience in – some might even suspect said actor is playing Bourne. Either way, it shan't be too long before people getting name-dropped.
Reader Comments (2)
This is going to be tricky, yes, but I got the impression that "Bourne" was actually a code name/cover. "Jason Bourne" has found out the answers he seeks; he is also presumed dead (see Ultimatum) - but while I'd prefer Damon to return (as would others, I'm sure) I think they can get away with it.
How?
Well...a story could follow Paz (Edgar Ramirez) who, in essence, is "the next Bourne" (The Professor (Clive Owen) in the first film in a way passed his torch to Bourne (""Look at us. Look at what they make you give.") and Boure says the same line to Paz at the end- who then refuses to kill Bourne. It all could center around the aftermath of the exposure of Operation Treadstone. Parsons is on the lam. Maybe Paz has a redemption story.
Or how about a prequel involving The Professor? Maybe a story that starts with him but ends in Bourne 5.
BETTER YET
Jason Bourne is in the movie. Remember his skills with a rifle scope? Who is to say that he can't have an "omni" like presence? You know he's alive, he's around, but you just don't know exactly where! You might hear a voice over, might see a glimpse, might see a computer message, and POOF abracadbra Jason Bourne is a CIA ghost and vanishes for a short time.
Carrots to chew on.
I agree, I believe Paz was being discussed seriously for a spinoff ever since Bourne 3.