“I tried to give them a Marvel Universe”: Star Wars Showrunner Reveals Matt Damon’s $1.6B Franchise Nearly Rivaled MCU With Avengers: Endgame Actor

“I tried to give them a Marvel Universe”: Star Wars Showrunner Reveals Matt Damon’s $1.6B Franchise Nearly Rivaled MCU With Avengers: Endgame Actor
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Andor showrunner, Tony Gilroy didn’t just spoil the ending of Season 2 of the live-action series in the Star Wars franchise but also poured his strong opinions on how Matt Damon’s $1.6 billion franchise rivaled MCU with Avengers: Endgame actor, Jeremy Renner, who couldn’t really live up Bourne’s character.

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Matt Damon reprised his titular role in Jason Bourne
Matt Damon reprised his titular role in Jason Bourne (2016)

Opening up about his plans for the Bourne franchise, the filmmaker revealed that he tried to give fans a Marvel universe in the 2012 film, wherein Matt Damon decided not to return whilst director, Paul Greengrass not being on board.

Tony Gilroy Feels Bourne Franchise Is The Most Shambolic Success Stories Of All Time!

In a recent interview with Deadline, Tony Gilroy, who co-wrote the screenplays for four Bourne movies, revealed that he tried to give fans an entire Marvel Universe, but there was so much bad blood that they decided not to take it. He said:

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“Look, man, I tried to give them a Marvel Universe with The Bourne Legacy, and they didn’t want to take it. I mean, honestly, that was the whole goal of that, to open it up … The history of Bourne is one of the most shambolic success stories of all time.

That would have been a great Hollywood book if someone had followed it from the very beginning. You’d never get everybody to tell the true story, but it just stumbled toward success all the way through.”

Also Read: ‘We’re breaking ground for a lot of people: Andor Creator Tony Gilroy Subtly Blasts Previous Star Wars Directors For Not Being ‘Brave Enough’ To Take Things To the Next Level

Matt Damon as Jason Bourne in The Bourne Identity (2002)
Matt Damon as Jason Bourne in The Bourne Identity (2002)

Matt Damon, who played Bourne for many years, did not appear in the 2012 movie, The Bourne Legacy (2012), but ended up leading the $1.6 billion franchise once again in Jason Bourne (2016), one reason being, Gilroy did not write the installment.

Also Read: “I wanted to do it about real people”: Andor Star Tony Gilroy Says Star Wars Show Won’t Have Any Fan Service, Compares Skywalkers With the Royal Family

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Matt Damon Lived Up To Bourne’s Legacy!

Matt Damon and Tony Gilroy have traveled a rough road despite the mammoth success of the Bourne franchise. Marvel’s Jeremy Renner became a straightforward replacement for Damon in The Bourne Legacy as the actor declared his loyalty to the previous director, Paul Greengrass.

Almost believing that he was done with Bourne’s character, Matt Damon eventually returned to the franchise alongside Paul Greengrass in Jason Bourne (2016), convincing that there is much to the character’s story. Damon’s return did wonders as his movie grossed more than $416 million at the worldwide box office.

Jeremy Renner played Matt Damon's Jason Bourne in The Bourne Legacy (2012)
Jeremy Renner played Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne in The Bourne Legacy (2012)

Jeremy Renner’s The Bourne Legacy, directed by Tony Gilroy, managed to gross $280 million worldwide, conveying that while it may have Bourne in the title, it was nothing like a Jason Bourne film. It was Greengrass’ idea of creating a fresh story and fan’s urge to see the original Bourne, that resulted in the success of the 2016 installment.

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It is fair to suggest that almost a decade ago, Jeremy Renner killed the best spy-thriller franchise of the century, but Matt Damon, being the real man behind Bourne’s legacy, returned as its savior. The Martian actor surely conveyed, there can be only one Bourne, and that’s him!

Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne (2016) can be rented or purchased on Amazon Instant Video.

Also Read: “This is a career-ender, it’s really embarrassing”: Matt Damon Hated His Third Bourne Movie, Put The Studio And Filmmakers On Blast Despite $444M Success

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Source: ComicBook

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Written by Mallika Singh

Articles Published: 204

I am Mallika Singh, a lawyer and writer by profession. Writing gives me a sense of freedom and independence. I am a keen observer and an ardent reader. When not at work, you can find me at the stable. Horse riding is another passion that keeps me going.