'The Bourne Legacy': Jake Gyllenhaal, Garrett Hedlund Up To Replace Matt Damon?

Can you make a "Bourne" film without Bourne himself? Apparently, yes. You just need another hot action star to fill the assassin shoes.

Variety reports that Tony Gilroy, writer of the "Bourne" trilogy that starred Matt Damon as an assassin with amnesia, is in the process of writing/directing a fourth film -- "The Bourne Legacy" -- without his original leading man. Which means, of course, a new star must be cast.

Unlike the James Bond series, the new "Bourne" films won't be putting a new actor in the character of Jason Bourne; instead, there will be a whole new character in a whole new storyline. "This is not a reboot or a recast or a prequel," Gilroy explained in October. "No one's replacing Matt Damon. There will be a whole new hero, a whole new chapter…this is a stand-alone project... The easiest way to think of it is an expansion or a reveal. Jason Bourne will not be in this film, but he's very much alive."

And according to Variety, the standalone project's shortlist has some heavy hitters: Jake Gyllenhaal, Garrett Hedlund, Taylor Kitsch, Kellen Lutz and Tobey Maguire.

All of those names have varying degrees of war film/action experience. Gyllenhaal has faced off against Iraqis in "Jarhead," Hedlund against computers in "Tron," Maguire against the Green Golblin in "Spiderman," and Lutz against vampires in "Twilight".

Will it work? We'll see. Never count Jason Bourne out. Or, maybe, the guy replacing him, either.

For more, click over to Variety.

Comments

[Miss H]

02:43 PM on 03/31/2011

This could be good...

[JTWallace]

12:35 PM on 03/04/2011

Why not see if David Boreanaz is available. He looks the part and can make you laugh or freighten you with those eyes that bore through the camera at you. Damon still looks like a colleg boy. Good actor though.

[FrauleinFeline]

11:11 AM on 03/04/2011

Garrett Hedlund -YESSSSSSS! In about 10 yrs, he still looks like a teenager :)
Jake Gyllenhaal - NOOOOOO!!!!
Tobey Maguire - AAAUUUUGGGHHHHKKHH! No please no!

[rnmina]

11:03 AM on 03/03/2011

No More Bourne anything. The first two were great action movies but No more please. Jake NO please. Source Code for you Jake please and leave this series with or without Matt ALONE. I loved Matt in True Grit and looking forward to Adjustment Bureau...I think.

[griffeyphan]

06:05 AM on 03/01/2011

No one cares if it is Jack Ryan, but if it is Jason Bourne.... No, unacceptable.

[fourthestatepost]

01:45 PM on 02/27/2011

Tobey Maguire? I know I won't watch if he's in it.

[slightlybent]

09:27 PM on 02/26/2011

Maybe Arie could land the gig for Vince.

[PhanTheHotness]

09:10 PM on 02/26/2011

i say leave the bourne trilogy ALONE

its fantastic! and i'm sorry but if you put any big names in movie, i wont watch it
at least get a new actor for something fresh, if you have to make another movie
if this movie happens, how can they make another bourne movie??

yea its a stand alone movie, but they're still using the bourne name
tobey? spiderman
jake? not a good actor, dont like him
kellan? vampires
alex pettyfer? alien

get a new person

[Rubyclaygirl]

08:23 PM on 02/26/2011

I love Matt Damon, I have read all of Robert Ludlums books, and the Bourne series are great but Damon is or does not fit the role, if you read the books the character should be much taller, there's just something missing with Damon in the role, he's a great actor but I never liked him in this role, I wish they would make movies out of all the other books Ludlum wrote, they are great stories, I am sorry Matt, I am a big fan of yours but just not on the Bourne character.

[slightlybent]

09:20 PM on 02/26/2011

WOW! You've read all of Ludlums works. He's one of my favorites but I cant say I've read them all. The Bourne series was masterful but it jumped the shark when Lustbader took over. Hope the new movie isn't an amalgamation of those works. Wonder if it's the story of Leonid Arkadin?

[keene]

06:13 PM on 02/26/2011

I'd watch Jake. The others just no. Even though Tobey is a fine actor and I barely know the others, mm, pass.

[SpaceboySD]

04:32 PM on 02/26/2011

Michael Bay Presents: "Bourne Identity Babies"

[macewan]

02:06 PM on 02/26/2011

Hell no! Might as well create a whole new character. He is not Bourne.

[FTracy3]

12:42 PM on 02/26/2011

Well, Charlie Sheen may be looking for a gig.

[Ryan Schmidt]

10:59 AM on 02/26/2011

Good to hear its not a new actor playing Bourne, but w/out Damon it sounds dumb.

[JTWallace]

11:33 AM on 02/26/2011

Nothing wrong with Damon as an actor but, he came across as a college boy in a man's world. He was terrific in The Talented Mr. Ripley and I think he could do the dark, wicked blond boy type roles as well, but nix on the hero types. I tried to watch him in Bourne but thought the woman who tried to eliminate him was a much better actor. I still think David Boreanz(sp) would be a much more mature and "worn weary actor) than Damon. So shoot me.

[Ryan Schmidt]

12:37 AM on 02/28/2011

I like Damon a lot and I think he played the Bourne roles perfect.

I could see the Bourne role being expanded with another actor. I just don't like when new actor's take over roles of existing characters.

[SpaceboySD]

10:50 AM on 02/26/2011

No offense to Jake, and Garret, and Tobey, and The Coreys or whothehelleverelse, but The Bourne Franchise owes EVERYTHING to directors, Doug Liman and Paul Greengrass and to star, Matt Damon (just to put things in perspective, Stallone was actually considered for the part before Damon was cast). Even the producers of the Bond series realized it was time to step up their game after "Identity" came out (thank Jebus). Using the, in-name-only, kind of-sequel, is not only one of the oldest tricks in the book, but a big middle-finger to the fans of debateably the greatest action-trilogies ever. Pass.

[JTWallace]

11:42 AM on 02/26/2011

Stallone is too much of a cartoon character than a real life "hero". Too many actors look too much as if they're cut from the same mold. One of the reasons I think TV shows like The Unit is so good is the actors who fill the role as more authentic. Another reason I like David Boreanz is not his looks nor sense of comedy and drama. He has the physicality and dramatic face and ability to be "dark" in a character who can portray evil as well as man next door or express his character moods in such a way as to haunt you in his entensity through his eyes.