Interesting developments in the life cycle of the Bourne Movie saga this week, with film number four, The Bourne Legacy, proving controversial even though it is still a couple of years away from hitting the big screen. After a trilogy of hard-hitting action that introduced an amnesiac spy trying to find his real identity, uncover a conspiracy and avoid tidal waves of bullets – three movies over – a proposal for Bourne Legacy was jokingly referred to by newly instated writer/director Tony Gilroy as The Bourne Redundancy…After the sad passing of Robert Ludlum, writer of the book series, Eric Van Lustbader sustained the literary pulse an continued the series. However, there is certainly no persecution for thinking this fourth film may well fall flat on its face…especially after it has been revealed this week that the series star and Jason Bourne himself, Mr. Matt Damon, will NOT be reprising his role in the franchise…in fact, Gilroy has gone so far to shock fans as to say “There will be a whole new hero, a whole new chapter.”

So thus far we can figure, Bourne #4 is still being slated as a Bourne film, just only WITHOUT BOURNE. The film also loses the input and direction of Paul Greengrass, one of Hollywood’s few directors who can do raw, testosterone fed action without portraying a wank-athon. Apparently, the “appeal” lies in #4’s duty as an expositional film, telling a story that conveys “bigger picture” revelations about the world that Jason Bourne is in. As Gilroy has it, there is a future for Jason Bourne and thus Matt Damon – but in future releases.

Kind of sounds like fans have been told to wait around for their lover while she’s off trying something else for awhile – but don’t worry mate, she’ll be back. Yeah-freaking-right!

Do they really need a whole movie to depict Bourne’s environment in a larger sense, when they have already had three films to do it? Do you think Bourne Legacy is looking like it will be Bourne Dead?

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