Jeremy Renner: 'Bourne Legacy' Star Offer

A man whose name has been permanently glued to every theater marquee in the country the past three years is set to join a franchise based on an amnesia-induced identity crisis.

Jeremy Renner has been officially offered the lead role in "The Bourne Legacy," the fourth film in the "Bourne" series that featured Matt Damon as the titular hero in its first three films. Renner would play a new character, distinct from Damon's Jason Bourne, but who is also a Treadstone-bred assassin.

"This is not a reboot or a recast or a prequel," series screenwriter Tony Gilroy explained about the new story 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."

The casting follows months of speculation; Gilroy, who will direct this new film, cast a wide net in his search for a new star. In February it was reported that he had a shortlist that included Jake Gyllenhaal, Garrett Hedlund, Taylor Kitsch, Kellen Lutz and Tobey Maguire; interestingly, Renner was not on his list, or at least not publicly. That said, a report in the Latino Review earlier in April said that Renner would be the choice.

Renner is quickly becoming the face of the biggest in action franchises. He stars this summer in "Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol," with Tom Cruise, from whom he is being groomed to assume the number one star mantle. He'll also be a member of the hero ensemble in the Marvel teamup epic "The Avengers," directed by Joss Whedon.

Renner became a household name when he was nominated for an Oscar for his turn as a solder in "The Hurt Locker." He garnered another Oscar nomination for his work in "The Town," as well.

While his "Bourne" casting isn't official yet, The Hollywood Reporter says that it looks like he will accept the part and jam it into his superstar schedule.

Comments

[midwestblues]

10:55 AM on 04/25/2011

Renner might be a good actor; but he doesn't have the "presence" of Matt Damon. No way!

[Ty LaRue]

06:14 AM on 04/25/2011

I'm story but Matt Damon is Jason Bourne, as a matter of fact he's Bourne period

[rotorhead1871]

12:43 AM on 04/25/2011

Matt Damion = Jason Bourne.....just like William Shatner = Captain Kirk....and Sean Connery is 007!!!!..........there is only one..

[Skyhawk]

10:26 PM on 04/24/2011

Great news! I've enjoyed his work on ABC's "The Unusuals", which IMO was an underrated TV series.

[thewirah]

09:56 PM on 04/24/2011

Great choice. Renner was fantastic in the Hurt Locker and the Town. I assume his character will be much darker than Matt Damon's. Glad they didn't choose Jake Gyllenhaal.

[RedBirdy]

09:58 AM on 04/24/2011

I agree with some posters... the franchise should move on. However, I feel there are too many loose ends with Damon's character! I loved Matt in the role and would feel better if there was a proper good bye to his character. I like Jeremy, but that role was made for Matt!

[littlebrowngirl]

11:13 PM on 04/23/2011

Great choice.

[momstudent]

09:35 PM on 04/23/2011

Excellent choice. I think three times in the same role is the way to go...I will miss Toby as Spiderman, Christain Bale as Batman...the franchise needs to move forward as do the actors.

[Waldimore]

12:14 PM on 04/23/2011

Love Renner. But I'll miss Damon as Jason Bourne. I could watch those movies over and over.

[Joseph Scott]

01:52 PM on 04/24/2011

That first film was a revelation!
The trick, they say, is to give the audiences something they are familiar with -- a genre, plot, etc. -- but then show it to them in a way they've never seen it before. No small feat.
It must be like trying to make a car commercial, and make it "new." It's all been done, as they say, which makes inventiveness, visually, and the words, all the more difficult.

But, when he grabbed a map off the wall of the bldg. he was in, and sat and studied it while the authorities were closing in, you had a new hero. A thinking man, and probably a bit more realistic, as far as operatives in black ops go.

And yes, I know a lot about black ops and secret agents cause, um, I are one, but please don't tell anyone cause it's a secret.

[libluv235]

10:29 AM on 04/23/2011

Yay. Love watching him.

[Paris55]

10:07 AM on 04/23/2011

People keep referring to James Bond on this board and that Sean Connery is the only Bond they relate to. Sean Connery was not the first or even second choice to play Bond.
Albert Broccoli’s first choice was Cary Grant, the producer’s friend and even best man at his wedding. Still, he declined the role of James Bond in “Dr. No,” leaving moviegoers only to wonder about the performance the legendary actor would have turned in.

Creator Ian Fleming wasn’t sold on Connery either, at first, stating he “wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.” Fleming’s first choice for the role was David Niven, who was much more highbrow than Connery. So you never know, Rennar could tak ethe role and blow it out of the park!

[Northern Observer]

08:25 AM on 04/23/2011

"Renner would play a new character, distinct from Damon's Jason Bourne, but who is also a Treadstone-bred assassin."

Ok a distinct character without Bourne being in the movie? What exactly is it that makes this character different from Bourne? Sounds like the only difference is the characters name.

[cybolt]

11:14 AM on 04/23/2011

I dont know for sure how they'll do this, although I have a clue.

Robert Ludlum wrote the initial three bestseller­s made into films so far. After his passing, his estate commission­ed Eric Von Lustbader to continue the thread. His first effort was “The Bourne Legacy,” in which the Bourne persona is put to rest and *David Webb* (the military man who was brainwashed into being Bourne) resumes living, and is drawn into intrigue. Therefore Renner will actually be playing Dabid Webb, not Jason Bourne.

It may seem like a minor distinction but Webb's character *will be* completely different. We'll have to get to know him. We sure dont know what type of guy Bourne was before he was Bourne but in Webb, we we will find a different guy who will most obviously suffer mental anquish and torment via flashbacks to his life as Bourne. In this manner, the book will fit into the Bourne stable but not actually be about *that* guy.

BTW, the title of the new film is the same as the book....

[Sundance7]

04:06 AM on 04/23/2011

This guy is an excellent actor. The first time I noticed him was in a movie called "Dahmer".
He played Jeffrey Dahmer. The movie was low budget yet his performance was so upsetting that you felt the need to shower after.

[Paris55]

05:22 AM on 04/23/2011

I had no idea he played that role. I can not watch that particular movie but I will try just to see his performance. I remember that Dahmer story and got sick behind it.

[Sundance7]

02:32 AM on 04/24/2011

I know exactly what you mean. It's a hard film to get through. I have never been able to sit from begining to end. It's usually on late at night and I will stop and watch pieces of it. Renner is so disgusting and dirty looking you forget he's acting. When he became known last year for "The Hurt Locker", I knew I had seen him before. He was also excellent in The Town.

[mikroskopic]

08:42 AM on 04/24/2011

yup, he was also great in Neo Ned.

[emmeaki]

10:21 PM on 04/22/2011

Why not just make an original movie? Why connect it to the Bourne movies if it isn't even about the Jason Bourne character? Oh, I forgot, Hollywood is lazy and they just want to make a quick buck!

[Northern Observer]

08:22 AM on 04/23/2011

Completely agree. There are so many remakes and sequels being made. Just waiting for an original idea.

[avery t]

09:45 AM on 04/23/2011

shakespeare wrote henry IV part one, henry IV part too, and henry V.

any movie with interesting characterization and good dialogue is original.

most cultures have sagas. a saga is an ongoing story with many installments.

[Womanvoter4Obama]

08:48 PM on 04/22/2011

Love him but was hoping for Taylor.