From his early days as an actor, Matt Damon has proven his versatility in every role he plays. Good Will Hunting, Courage Under Fire, and The Rainmaker showed his range as a dramatic performer. Damon diversified his filmography and started venturing into action films with the first Jason Bourne film in 2002.
The first three films of the franchise were released in quick succession till 2007. Damon did not return as Bourne for almost a decade and it seems it was a deliberate decision made by him and the franchise director. Both of them wanted to see how the world would change in that time and reflect that on their return in 2016.
Matt Damon Infused Real-World Changes With His 2016 Return As Jason Bourne
Matt Damon played Jason Bourne in the brilliant first trilogy of the franchise including The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, and The Bourne Ultimatum. The films were loved by audiences, catapulting Damon’s reputation as a bonafide action hero. Damon and Greengrass did not return to the franchise until 2016 with Jason Bourne.
The Bourne franchise (the first trilogy) emphasized the political atmosphere of the time involving many government conspiracies and cover-ups. As the trilogy drew to a close, Damon and Greenglass felt that it was the perfect time to give the franchise a break and wait for the world to evolve a bit.
In an interview with Buzzfeed, the actor revealed that the almost decade-long break between The Bourne Ultimatum and Jason Bourne was a deliberate one to observe the changes in the world that occurred in that period. That way, the 2016 film was able to integrate ideas regarding the dangers of technology, the threat of privacy (via social media), and illegal surveillance, concepts that all became very prevalent by 2015. The actor said,
We always looked at those movies as really about the Bush presidency, and so we kind of had to wait for the world to change. Without giving too much of it away, it’s Bourne through an austerity-riddled Europe. It seems like enough has changed, you know? There are all these kinds of arguments about spying and civil liberties and the nature of democracy.
By giving that break, the franchise prevented being overexposed and repetitive (which has been a criticism of the James Bond franchise). The fourth film was able to bring a new narrative to the franchise, drawing from the many ethical dilemmas that troubled the world in 2015. Jason Bourne received mixed reviews and grossed $415 million against a $120 million budget (via Box Office Mojo).
Matt Damon Hopes To Return For the New Jason Bourne Film
Matt Damon last played Jason Bourne in 2016 and since then, a new film has been announced with Edward Berger (All Quiet On The Western Front) set to direct. It is not yet known whether Damon will return as Bourne or it will be a fresh chapter in the franchise.
In an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Damon stated that he is aware that Berger is working on a new film. He hopes to return as the character and is anxious about the film like many other fans. While he claims he does not know much about the project, he expressed his desire to work with Berger on this new Bourne film. Damon said,
There is a great director named Edward Berger. [‘All Quiet on the Western Front’] is a fantastic film, and he’s wonderful and he said he had an idea [for Bourne]. I would love to work with him, so he’s working on it. Look, I’m as anxious as you are to see if this thing [happens] — I hope it’s great and that we can do it.
Jason Bourne was released in 2016 and it has now been 8 years since its release. A new Bourne film will be intriguing for audiences after such a long gap. While nothing regarding its story or setting is known, it will be interesting how the franchise will show its evolution with Berger at the helm.
Fans can watch all four Jason Bourne films starring Damon on Peacock.
