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BREAKING: The search is over. Universal Pictures has formally offered Jeremy Renner the lead role in the Tony Gilroy-directed The Bourne Legacy. Renner, who has been nominated for Oscars the past two years for his work in The Hurt Locker and The Town, is expected to sign on quickly to play a new character in the spinoff film that begins production in September. Like the Jason Bourne character played by Matt Damon in the first three The Bourne Identity thrillers, Renner will play an operative from a covert government program that is even more dangerous than the Treadstone brainwashing program that hatched Bourne.
Renner was one of the names rumored as the studio went through two cycles of tests over eight weeks to find the right guy. That decision was made today. Even though Renner plays an operative in the upcoming Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol, the studio felt clearly that he was in a position similar to where Damon was when his career took off with Bourne. Renner is not a kid, but he is really hitting his stride and poised to become a big star after numerous strong performances.
The studio looked closely at a number of up and coming stars, and tested the likes of Joel Edgerton (The Thing), Dominic Cooper (The Devil’s Double), Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy) and Luke Evans (The Amateur American). Other names in the mix included Taylor Kitsch, Anthony Mackie and Oscar Isaac.
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Renner is a good choice but what a shame that the studio wouldn’t take a chance and make a statement with someone like Anthony Mackie…if it wasn’t for Mackie, Renner may not have gotten that first Oscar nomination. Mackie would have been so exciting for this franchise.
Love Renner but I would have liked to have seen the role offered to someone else. He is going to be so overexposed with possible franchises.
Excellent news.
Funnily enough, I had my heart set on his Hurt Locker colleague Anthony Mackie getting a gig like this but I feel that this is Renner’s time to become a leading man.
I love Matt Damon !! the Bourne series will never be the same without him!!! Jeremy Renner is a good actor but every time I see him I think of him playing the JEFFREY DAHMER movie , which he played very well in !!
Matt Damon is the man for Bourne-Legacy give him what he wants no one else can be Jason. It will never be the same with out Matt we want Matt!!!!!
Someone should mention he is also in Mission Impossible cause nobody knows that lol
I like Jeremy Renner and I think he’s a good actor but if they were really looking for a change from Matt Damon, it doesn’t do the trick. I don’t understand it. If they were going to go this way, they should have just worked harder at keeping Matt Damon in. Either that, or follow through with the new twist, a younger Bourne with a younger actor. An unknown would have been fine since the Bourne franchise already had a certain amount of credibility with audiences.
Great choice and I hope the next James Bond is someone different than Daniel Craig.
Well I get the IDEA behind the casting because Renner is talented guy and can pull off the tough edginess needed. I do question the idea of going with an actor of his age and lacking in the movie star good looks that Damon has. No Renner is not a classic handsome movie star, he’s average looking which is fine but he’s going to need to train HARD to have a killer body since his face won’t make the hearts flutter.
I think it’s a capable choice but I would’ve gone with someone younger and less Matt Damon Lite.
Could they not think a little more inside the box in question? I thought Bourne was supposed to be more of an intellectual, a thinker, not only a bruiser. (At least that’s how I saw him) What about Hugh Dancy, Ioan Gruffudd? Matthew Goode? All extremely hot, fantastic (and eclectic) acting chops and look like they might have read a few decent books too.
I think he’s great! But please don’t become another overexposed actor ! I beg you!
sorry, for me jason bourne is matt damon and no one else…
Renner is truly a unique talent that brings an engaging human complexity to even his most studio friendly roles on screen. He’s perfect for a hand off for BOURNE and this type of role and strategy are revving up on a different lane altogether than what the M.I. franchise is driving on without conflict or overlap.
If anything, one must believe that these projects will also allow Renner the opportunity to open the door for exploring passion projects which he’ll most likely produce and star in, showing us why Renner’s range in talent remains so refreshing in the pool.
Hate to see Matt Damon go or a Bourne Identity without him.
Unlike Damon, Renner can actually act. He also has a better ass. Wasn’t interested in the Bourne franchise post Damon but now I am thanks to this.
I’ve been hearing about this all over the news, but they haven’t said if he has actually ACCEPTED the role yet!
Regardless, I love Jeremy Renner! In my world, he’d be in EVERY movie! I’d watch him do drama, horror, comedy, western, adventure, romance, animation, documentaries, sci-fi, even porno! However, I am concern with something called “overexposure,” but I hope audiences will embrace him instead of getting tired of him.
Matt Damon has been excellent playing the role of Jason Bourne. I cannot imagine someone else playing the part. It’s like Sean Connery as James Bond; no one really played the role like he did.
No offense to Jeremy Renner but I believe the legacy must be continued and the role be played by Matt Damon.
great choice has the look and could play a young James Bond. looks a little Daniel Craig.
How could they do this to us?They have to realize that it’s not just the movie that we like but it’s more of the actors more than anything.They really should have thought about this and asked the fans….Now I can’t really say I will even watch this but if Matt was in it you better believe I would def watch it.
I can’t believe they would replace matt damon as bourne,what set of shoes he played,he truely was a great choice for that role and to have fans of 3 movies ,,,now change with new character,,i wouldn’t be able to bring myself to watch further bourne movies,,,with all the money universal makes, are you kiddin me that there is no way that they could have put greengrass/ damon together for another movie…i hope to see matt damon make another great movie along those movies..
That photo? Did he get a face-lift? Isn’t he too old to take over another 3-picture franchise?
You’ve got to be kidding me!!! I love all the Bourne series, and have them on DVD & Blu-ray, there is NO one that can replace Matt Damon in these sequels! That’s like replacing Sylvester Stallone in Rocky with Pee Wee Herman! …it’s gonna be a KO alright!
BRING MATT BACK!!! or will not watch!
LAME!!! Matt Damon is Jason Bourne. That is right. Bring MATT Back!!! or I will not watch!
It’s actually refreshing that a studio get behind a real talent like Renner. He’s got the grit and edge to make it interesting. And he’s American! Not another import actor taking over an American franchise. Renner’s going to kill it…just you watch.
I love the Bourne series! and for me there’s no better actor than matt damon. he owned the movie that’s why it became a big hit!a perfect actor for the movie bourne.no one can act better nor replaced his role there. If aint matt damon there’s no bourne series!why replaced him when in fact he did great and gives justice to his role?!
I think Matt has the only charisma for this role, when i’ll see Renner in the new movie or anyone else, i always remember Damon, he Can’t be replaced i continue with the others is like Matrix without Keanu