Much like CB, I am a big fan of Matt Damon in anything, especially the Bourne series. Jason Bourne is likely one of the most important characters Matt Damon has ever and will ever play – the movies made Matt bankable, and they helped make him one of the most in-demand actors today. Plus, you know, the Bourne movies are just really, really good. Solid action-thrillers with good acting and enough plot twists and tension to keep the audiences in their seats.
You would think that Matt’s loyalty to the series and the character would ensure that he would be doing Bourne movies from the old folks’ home, but not so much. Matt pulled his support for a fourth Bourne film after Paul Greengrass (who directed Supremacy and Ultimatum) left. After Matt left, producers scrambled, trying to find a new actor to play Bourne is what I’m guessing will be some kind of “reboot”. The latest name to float to the top is none other than Shia LaBeouf.
Shia LaBeouf is the latest high-profile actor to be mentioned in connection with Universal Pictures’ The Bourne Legacy. We reported last night that actors such as Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire, Garrett Hedlund, Taylor Kitsch, and Kellan Lutz are also being considered to take over the role of Jason Bourne.
The Bourne Legacy producer Frank Marshall previously worked with Shia LaBeouf on the 2008 blockbuster Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. It seems a decision hasn’t been made yet on who will become the new Jason Bourne, although Shia LaBeouf appears to be one of the leading candidates. Our report from last night indicates that the producers are seeking actors in their mid-20s to early-30s for the lead role.
Tony Gilroy will direct from his own script, and the production is said to start sometime this spring, assuming they sign a lead actor in the very near future. Not much is known about the story of The Bourne Legacy, although it is believed there will be an opening for Matt Damon to return as Jason Bourne in future installments.
The Bourne Legacy comes to theaters August 3rd, 2012. The film is directed by Tony Gilroy.
[From Movie Web]
Did anyone else have a giggle with “actors such as Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire, Garrett Hedlund, Taylor Kitsch, and Kellan Lutz”? I mean, KELLAN LUTZ?!? No, seriously, KELLAN LUTZ?!? How much did Kellan Lutz’s publicist have to pay the studio to have them chuckle and say, “We’re thinking Gyllenhaal… or hahahahaha KELLAN LUTZ”?
Anyway, regarding Shia: eh. I actually think Shia is one of the best young actors working today, and I truly wish that he didn’t come across as such a douche in some interviews and various encounters. I think Shia could do well with the emotional center of the Bourne films, but I’m not sure about the action. I guess he’s pegged as an action guy because of those Transformers movies, though. Whatever.
Photos courtesy of Fame & WENN.
him?
The fourth installment will be called “Bourne to be a Douche”…with Shia in the title role.
Lightweight.
What?!?!?!?! Oh, geez, my mother and brother will be pissed.
No. Just no.
Eh he was OK in that movie Eagle Eye(non Transformers action flick on HBO all the time) but he doesn’t have the star power of Matt Damon. It would be a movie I’d watch on cable only. Seriously they should just retire the Bourne series without Matt.
gah! no. no. and no.
Horrible idea. Horr.I.Ble.
I just watched Blade Runner the other night and its amazing I never noticed Shia looks like Harrison Ford so much. I mean, it was awesome kinda in a way. I finally got why he was cast in the Indiana jones movie. I hope he has the kinda appeal Harrison does. I just like this guy, douche extraordinaire or not.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Noooooooooooooo!
NO EFFIN WAY SHIA for my beloved Bourne movies!!!!
And quite frankly no to any of those other names the studio was supposedly considering… except maaayyyybbee Taylor Kitsch.
I vote James McAvoy! 🙂
What about James McAlvoy? Now there’s a Jason Bourne….
This is more tolerable than John Stamo’s replacing Charlie Sheen in Two and a half men.
Why not just give it up and create some new characters.
@cranky chica… Great “horny for James McAvoy” minds think alike!!!
Daniel Craig? But people might mistake Bourne for Bond!
hell no
I LOVE the Bourne movies, I watch them whenever they play them on TV so imagine how devastated I was when I read that Jake Gyllenhaal and Kellan Lutz were in the running to play Bourne. What. The. Hell. Can you Imagine Jake Gyllenhaal, Swiffy’s “lover” doing action???? I CAN’T. And Kellan Lutz with his tree trunk arms and peanut head??? I JUST CAN’T.
BlackMamba, you are hilarious, I nearly chocked to death!
“And Kellan Lutz with his tree trunk arms and peanut head???”
I’m kinda “done” with the Bourne movies. I don’t really want to know any more about the character or his business. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy the 3 movies, but I think they should just end it here.
I don’t care for Shia as a person but it’s hard for me to say he’s not a good actor. I’d probably watch.
While I also liked Shia in Eagle Eye, he would be horribly miscast as Jason Bourne.
I just saw Unstoppable (starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pine) and I think that Chris would make an excellent Jason Bourne.
I think he would be perfect choice. Can’t wait 😀
omg enough with these reboots! god, hollywood is just out of ideas aren’t they?
Thanks for giving me a good laugh today.
Because this is a joke, right?
I like Shia as an actor, but I don’t think there is another need for a Bourne movie without Matt Damon.
I think Shia would bring something fresh to the role. He’s alot different then Matt Damon and that could work to his advantage here.
Say it isn’t so! Please Matt come back. I can’t stand the thought of a Bourne movie without you!!!
“Did anyone else have a giggle with “actors such as Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire, Garrett Hedlund, Taylor Kitsch, and Kellan Lutz”? I mean, KELLAN LUTZ?!? No, seriously, KELLAN LUTZ?!? How much did Kellan Lutz’s publicist have to pay the studio to have them chuckle and say, “We’re thinking Gyllenhaal… or hahahahaha KELLAN LUTZ”?”
“have a giggle” doens’t describe my reaction perfectly, “terrified” fits better.
As for Shia, he is a good actor, no doubt, but Bourne’s identity belongs to Matt Damon. No one can be Bourne but Damon.
This is how much I know about casting, because I thought Matt Damon was a horrible choice for Bourne when first cast. I thought he was too boyish looking.
Shia?? no no no no no. He killed Transformers and Indiana Jones and can’t act. He’s also not manly & macho enough. Adored Matt as Bourne and Greengrass was a genius. Agree with the blogger who suggested Chris Pine. He totally rocked Star Trek and Unstoppable. However…do we really need another Bourne movie?
No. I agree, no more Bourne movies unless it’s Matt Damon in the lead. And if it takes some number of years before Damon agree, age Bourne appropriately to fit how Matt had aged. It’s easy if Bourne is under the radar and is pulled back into the espionage game due to some emergency or something like that.
Otherwise, let it be. Start up a new francise out of the 800 million thriller/spy/military/mystery series out there if Shia LaBeouf needs a job.
I love Matt Damon, but I would take Shia too. Douche or not, I like him.
This guy? Really? Well- if they do it, it’ll effectively ruin Jason Bourne for me, forever.
Given the choice between watching Shia LaBeouf try to act or letting Shia LaBeouf kick me in the face for 2 hours…. I gotta go with the boot to the face.
@LolaBella – Chris Pine is a solid suggestion!
Kellan LUTZ??
From what I read in other site, I forgot what site it was, the fourth Bourne movie won’t have Jason Bourne in it, even though it’s called “The Bourne Legacy”. According to the director, the movie is about the effects of Bourne’s action from the three previous movies. He didn’t say it clearly, but I’m guessing it’s probably about reformation in the agency, or the government investigates if there were still other Bournes.
Shia is over-rated, under skilled and creepy to look at. Yea… good choice.
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo not this whiny little ass. I wold rahter no more Bournes than this.
no!!! Matt damon ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Damon is clever and HOT..what the F is this shia labeouf..
Oh. ye. gods.
Why, is the next Bourne movie going to be retitled “The Bourne Crystal Skull”? If we learned nothing else from that last Indy debacle, we should have learned that Shia can’t pull this kind of thing off–he simply doesn’t have the charisma.
The thing about Damon was that he made the Bourne character…likable. I’ve never seen this Shia kid act, so I can’t comment as to his suitability. Chris Pine might be interesting in the role (thx LolaBella). I’m going to assume that Lutz was mentioned as a joke.
SHIA LABEOUF RUINS EVERYTHING. Seriously, I told my husband that just the other day.
GAAAHHH. No, just no.
Yuck, he bugs me. Especially his hair!
If Matt’s out, they should just end it there. The films were very successful, be glad and move on.
Shia can’t act!!! Matt Damon IS Jason Bourne!
Kellan Lutz is looking forward to playing Jason Bourne. Kellan Lutz has much bigger arms than Matt Damon! Kellan Lutz has updated his Facebook status to: “Kellan Lutz is the new Jason Bourne”. And then all his friends “Liked” it and said Kellan Lutz would be the best Bourne ever with his big arms. Now Kellan Lutz has to work on his legs.
By all means, let’s get the franchise-killer himself in there.
Never has so little looks, talent and charisma gotten so many leading roles.
WTF?!?!?!
No! He is an okay actor but I don’t think he does emotional very well… he always kind of looks like a lost puppy!
“Can you Imagine Jake Gyllenhaal, Swiffy’s “lover” doing action????”
He was pretty good in Prince of Persia – OK, so he still looked about 12 in the face, but he carried off the action scenes quite well.
Shia is such a formulaic actor. He would suck at this like he was awful on Transformers. How about they find someone new because if the choice is between Kellan and Jake they both suck.
By all means, let’s get the franchise-killer himself in there.
Never has so little looks, talent and charisma gotten so many leading roles.
Wouldn’t this be like Jason Bourne’s snotty little ‘ironic’ brother playing dress up to escape the bad guys?
This kid SUCKS.
All I can say is you’ve got to be joking, all these actors are wimps, including Shia.
Can’t these producers come up with other stories? If you’re going to consider Shia for Bourne, then you may as well bury Bourne forever.
Shia is in need of a charisma transplant. Even my cat has more charisma.
I love him- I’ll watch anything he’s in.
Kaiser,I think he would be my DL guy.It just came to me.
Nooo, not Shia. What about Mark Wahlberg? He could play Bourne brilliantly.
If they won’t take Kellan Lutz as Bourne, he may become the next Batman, Superman, Indiana Jones, James Bond, Spiderman, Rambo, Terminator, whatever just to be able to read his own name somewhere for another day.