14 DAY TRIAL // With no Matt Damon and apparently little connection to the 3 blockbuster Bourne movies made so far, “Bourne 4” will begin production this spring. Shia LaBeouf is the frontrunner for the part of Jason Bourne, it has emerged.
Ever since the announcement came that a fourth installment would be made even if star Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass were not in it, speculation on who might take over has been running rampant.
Greengrass was apparently more easily replaced, with Tony Gilroy coming to direct on a script that he’s also penned. The trick is now to find an actor to fill in Matt Damon’s large shoes.
Over the weekend, a list of potential leads made its way online. Now, a new report by MovieWeb suggests that, while those actors are still in the running, more have been added – and that Shia LaBeouf is considered favorite.
“Shia LaBeouf is the latest high-profile actor to be mentioned in connection with Universal Pictures’ The Bourne Legacy,” MovieWeb reports.
“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 same e-zine says.
The actors first considered for the part also included Joel Edgerton, Josh Hartnett, Paul Dano, Michael Pitt, Oscar Isaac, Michael Fassbender, Luke Evans, Alex Pettyfer, and Benjamin Walker, but they seem to be out of negotiations now.
LeBeouf is favorite because he’s already worked with producer Frank Marshall and has made a good impression on him. Plus, he’s proved he can do both action and serious acting, which is another ace up his sleeve.
“The Bourne Legacy producer Frank Marshall previously worked with Shia LaBeouf on the 2008 blockbuster Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” MovieWeb says.
Details on the plot of the fourth film are not yet available, but word has it producers want an actor in his late 20s – early 30s, which could mean this will be a prequel, thus explaining why Damon is not in it as well.
Speaking of Damon, here’s some good news for fans of the star as Jason Bourne: “it is believed there will be an opening for Matt Damon to return as Jason Bourne in future installments,” MovieWeb says.