Matt Damon and Edward Berger Target a Jason Bourne Return to the First 3 Films
Matt Damon says he and director Edward Berger are actively working to shape a new “Jason Bourne” film—and that the goal is to bring the story back in line with the tone and structure of the first three movies.
Damon and Berger are “trying to figure it out”
Speaking on ESPN’s “The Rich Eisen Show,” Damon confirmed he’s been in talks with Berger, the filmmaker behind “All Quiet on the Western Front.” Damon described the current stage as collaborative development: they’re discussing the project, working through what the story should be, and trying to “nail” it down before moving forward.
Damon also made clear what “success” looks like for him. He said he’d like to do the next Bourne entry “like the first three,” rather than approaching the franchise as a looser, mission-per-film setup.
Why the Bourne sequel is “tricky” to get right
Damon compared the challenge to James Bond, noting that Bond films function more like standalone missions and can even swap out the lead actor without breaking the underlying format. Bourne, he said, is built as a more linear story, which makes it harder to satisfy expectations while still adding enough new elements to justify another sequel.
Where the franchise stands
Plans for a revival surfaced in 2023, with early reporting indicating Berger would be involved, though Damon’s participation wasn’t guaranteed at the time. Universal later secured the rights in 2025. Damon also suggested they now have a clearer path forward, saying they “can crack it” and that they’re able to see “a line of sight” on how to make the film work.
Damon’s Bourne track record
Damon first played Jason Bourne in “The Bourne Identity” (2002), then returned for “The Bourne Supremacy” (2004) and “The Bourne Ultimatum” (2007). He later starred in “Jason Bourne” (2016). The only Bourne film he did not star in was “The Bourne Legacy,” which featured Jeremy Renner and was directed by Tony Gilroy.
What’s next
While Bourne development continues, Damon has other major projects in motion. This weekend, he appeared as Odysseus in Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” and he also starred in 2023’s “Oppenheimer.”
Damon’s comments indicate the new Bourne film is still in the shaping phase, with the key target being a story approach that he believes matches what made the early movies resonate.
