I am aware that this news leaked a few days ago, but I am still going to get it out there for you.  The fourth installment in the Bourne film franchise is coming, titled Bourne Legacy.  THR has said that screenwriter Tony Gilroy is in to write the script, leaving George Nolfi out.  However, who will be involved in the final product is still up in the air.  The biggest question marks are star Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass.

In the recent past, Damon has said he does not want to make a new installment without Greengrass, while the director has said he is moving on from the movie series. However, in an environment where studios are making fewer movies, and with this one assured of getting a greenlight — Universal wants this made for 2012 — on top of multimillion dollar paydays, the duo’s stance may soften.

The piece also mentions that the script for the forth film will not be based on the book of the same name written by Eric Van Lustbader for the Robert Ludlum series.

The Bourne trilogy was a strong one, but it got long in the tooth by the end of the third, in my opinion.  All were well done and entertaining at least, but I think that the somewhat repetitive storylines can only go so far.  Who can Jason Bourne trust, etc.?

I would hate to see the franchise go on without Damon, I’m not necessarily in favor of it going on even with him on board, but the movie is going forward one way or another.  The franchise has been too lucrative to have the kibosh put on it now.  That being said, I don’t have any preference of who gets involved at this time, if Damon is not involved.  There are only so many Greengrass / Damon pairings one can take.  They at least have to be siginificantly broken up by time in between like the Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorcese working relationship.  Their recent film Shutter Island was another in a line of successes for them, but at least they are willing (DiCaprio in particular) to do other projects in between.  What do you think of this project?  Are you into the idea of seeing another Bourne film?  Do you care if Damon and/or Greengrass does not return?  Does this help or hurt the films prospects?  Share.