Matt Damon's Jason Bourne Return Gets Official Update From Director Paul Greengrass

Arguably the greatest spy thriller franchise of all time, James Bond is gearing up for a major comeback, with the search for the next 007 taking center stage in recent weeks. Expectations are high for Amazon MGM as it prepares to relaunch the beloved spy franchise, with the next installment set to be helmed by Denis Villeneuve (Dune). But while the world waits to see what the future holds for Bond, another major spy hero, arguably the only one capable of going toe-to-toe with 007, if not surpassing him in the eyes of fans who prefer a more grounded approach to espionage, has remained dormant.

Talks about a sixth Jason Bourne movie began almost immediately after the fifth installment, Jason Bourne, hit theaters in 2016, bringing Matt Damon back as the fugitive CIA assassin. However, it wasn't until 2023 that a sixth movie was officially greenlit, with Edward Berger attached to direct. Even then, having a director on board did little to accelerate the project, as Berger himself once expressed doubts about whether he would ultimately be the one to helm the next Bourne movie. Franchise star Damon was equally uncertain about returning, citing his age as a potential obstacle. Earlier this year, however, the actor was more optimistic, revealing that he and Berger were working to nail down a story that could bring him back to the franchise.

While there has been no further confirmation about the status of the long-in-the-works story, fans continue to hope that Bourne's story isn't over just yet. The latest dose of optimism comes from Paul Greengrass, who directed Damon in all three of his original Bourne movies, as well as the 2016 revival, Jason Bourne, but sat out the Jeremy Renner-led fourth installment, The Bourne Legacy. Greengrass, who recently directed the star-studded action drama The Uprising, told the The Rest Is Classified podcast that he was rooting for the franchise to continue. “I hope they bring him back,” he said, adding, “I don’t know whether they will. I think they still try to.”

Paul Greengrass Refused to Jump Ship From Bourne to Bond

An encouraging update from a key creative force behind the franchise offers hope that a sixth Bourne movie could eventually materialize. Although Greengrass isn't attached to the next installment in any official capacity, he may not be done with the franchise just yet. The filmmaker described himself as a certified "Bourne guy" during the same podcast. His loyalty to the character created by Robert Ludlum runs so deep that Greengrass once turned down an opportunity to help usher in what would've been Daniel Craig's James Bond era.

“They asked me after I did Bourne Supremacy,” he recalled. “I have immense admiration and respect for what Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson did with that. And Daniel, you know, was a fantastic James Bond. But it's a bit like if you play for Manchester United, you can't sign for Man City, you know? You wouldn't feel right about that. You feel loyal. I do.”

Given that level of loyalty to the franchise, it wouldn't be surprising to see Greengrass return for another Bourne movie someday. For now, however, we wait. In the meantime, you can catch up on all five Bourne movies, which recently became available to stream on Netflix. Stay tuned for future updates.