A month ago, the rumor going around Hollywood was that Shia LaBeouf was the “leading contender” to take over the Jason Bourne role in some kind of Bourne-series reboot or reimagining. Most of you were disgusted with the idea of Shia the pipsqeak taking over a role that had redefined Matt Damon’s career, and a role that Damon had made his own so completely. Well… there’s some good news. No one is talking about Shia anymore. This month’s “leading contender” is Jeremy Renner! Jeremy is all of four months younger than Matt Damon (and Renner actually looks older than Damon), so this idea of a reboot is seeming more and more sketchy. That being said, I like Renner, and I could see him in this kind of role. It’s not a done deal, although some sites are reporting that Renner has been offered the part.

Jeremy Renner is reportedly Universal’s top choice to star in ‘The Bourne Legacy’, a film that writer/director Ton Gilroy says is not a franchise reboot. Just last week there was a total of six up-and-coming actors shortlisted as potentials to headline The Bourne Legacy for Universal Pictures. Now word has gotten out that the studio is prepped to send out an offer to star in the spinoff sequel to none other than the seemingly ubiquitous, multiple Oscar-nominee, Jeremy Renner.

To clarify that last comment: Renner is currently working on Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, will be starring alongside Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol this winter, and is already set to become Hawkeye in next year’s The Avengers.

While Bourne 4 shares its name with Eric Van Lustbader’s 2004 novel, Bourne Legacy will be an original creation penned and directed by Bourne Ultimatum co-screenwriter Tony Gilroy. The project is described as not being a requel (a rebooting sequel, that is) but instead a story set within the Bourne-verse that involves a new government agent/assassin – and would allow for Matt Damon to return as Jason Bourne in a fifth film, if he desires.

Renner… is apparently the man Universal prefers for Bourne Legacy – and despite his involvement with multiple big franchise titles arriving over the next two years, Renner’s schedule should allow him to appear in the Bourne flick if he so chooses. Expect to hear an official announcement on that matter in the very near future.

[From Screen Rant]

I don’t really understand the concept of this fourth Bourne film. It’s not a reboot, it’s not a reimagining, it’s not an “origin-story”. It’s like they’re going to get Renner (or whoever) to play an entirely new character, but they’re still going to call the series part of Bourne franchise, and have Bourne in the title? Very sketchy.

Here are some photos of Renner with newly dark hair, filming Hansel and Gretel in Germany last week:

Photos courtesy of Fame.