The Bourne franchise of films, based on the novels written by Robert Ludlum, has long been a source of inspiration for many modern-day action movies. From The Bourne Identity, released in 2002, to the more recent Jason Bourne that came out in 2016, the films have showcased Matt Damon as a former assassin on the run from the agency that created him, helping to uncover political corruption while also taking down anyone in his way. Given that it’s been a decade since the last film, Universal might be looking into recasting the character. A new report has indicated that the role could go to one of the more in-demand young actors in Hollywood.
Jeff Sneider recently reported on X, as well as his website The InSneider, that Universal might not only be looking to reboot the Bourne franchise, but that the studio may also have Zendaya in mind for the lead role. The post details that one of Sneider’s “very best sources” told him that there have been discussions about the Spider-Man: Brand New Day star taking over the franchise, though Universal has denied this claim and Zendaya’s publicity team has not confirmed. Still, the idea of Zendaya replacing her Odyssey co-star Matt Damon in a reimagining of the Bourne story isn’t the worst idea.
Zendaya has already established herself as a multi-faceted performer capable of all kinds of roles, ranging from dramatic, comedic, and even action-oriented. While the actor may have taken a supporting role in the Spider-Man films and was not given as much to do physically, Zendaya has proven herself with her role as Chani in the Dune franchise. Having seen her portraying a fierce Fremen warrior, it’s not hard to imagine the actor as an amnesiac assassin trying to put together pieces of her past. A female spy would also allow this new Bourne to differentiate itself from Matt Damon’s run as the character, for which he received plenty of critical acclaim for both his nuance and physicality.
Jason rides a motorcycle in The Bourne UltimatumUniversal Pictures
The Bourne franchise has tried to separate itself from Damon in the past, to limited success. The 2012 film The Bourne Legacy, directed by Andor series creator Tony Gilroy, featured Jeremy Renner as an agent of another organization that is tangentially related to Treadstone, the organization that created Jason Bourne. While the movie did well at the box office, it received mixed critical reception, similar to Paul Greengrass’s 2016 sequel Jason Bourne, which attempted to revive the series and put Damon back into the spotlight.
Universal’s interest in rebooting Bourne is unsurprising, especially since Amazon MGM is moving full speed ahead with a newJames Bond. Casting for the next 007 is reportedly entering its next stage with filmmaker Denis Villnueve set to direct the next entry. Universal would undoubtedly want a spy franchise of their own to stand out among the various studios, and having a big name like Zendaya would certainly help. All that remains to be seen is if Sneider’s report is proven to be true in the coming months, especially with The Odyssey press tour around the corner.