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Edward Berger is still holding out hope to work with Matt Damon‘s amnesiac assassin. Last month, it was confirmed that NBCUniversal had signed a massive deal to keep Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne book series under its umbrella for the foreseeable future, ensuring there would indeed be more action-packed adventures from the former CIA agent after his last on-screen appearance nearly a decade ago. The agreement renewed chances that the Conclave director, whose Bourne 6 appeared to have stalled out, might still happen with him at the helm. In a new conversation with The Hollywood Reporter for his latest effort, Ballad of a Small Player, he reiterated his desire for the franchise and offered an encouraging update on the future.
The subject of Bourne came up in a question about Berger’s lack of franchise filmmaking. He’s quickly risen as one of the more celebrated directors in business today, thanks to his Best Picture-contending novel adaptations All Quiet on the Western Front and Conclave. That said, while he’d mostly resisted bigger IP, the idea of Bourne excited him because he believed there was something original to tell within its world. Berger confirmed that he’s still on board and developing a new installment in the blockbuster action juggernaut, but the big deciding factor on whether it gets made or not will be if the team can find that new idea that will get him and Damon fully invested.
“A franchise can be original. If I had invented Oceans, I would have done it in a heartbeat. That’s a great franchise. And I’m in developing a Bourne movie, and I will do it if Matt wants to do it. If we can really have the feeling that we are adding something new to the great Bourne films that were already. That will be necessary to make Matt want to do it, and to make me want to do it. I would love nothing more than to make a big-budget, expensive, fun movie that embraces the audience. But these movies are also hard to find because I still don’t want to make something that I feel other people have treaded 20 times.”
Beginning in 2002, the Damon-led Bourne franchise has built up a legacy as one of the defining action franchises of the century so far, earning over $1.6 billion for Universal in the process. It began with the man called Bourne washing up in the ocean with bullets in his back and dissociative amnesia, realizing he’s a former CIA assassin and fighting to find his real identity against fellow agents and other forces out to be rid of him. With The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, and 2016’s Jason Bourne bringing the story to a head, there’s no telling where Berger could take things next, but the chances of him being the one to pick up the torch with Damon appear higher than ever with Universal deciding not to sell. One thing known for certain is that longtime franchise producer Frank Marshall will remain involved with the next film, whatever shape it takes.
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.