The Bourne Dilemma is reportedly the title for the latest in the spy thriller franchise, with Edward Berger – previously linked with Bond – set to direct.
We’ve been hearing for quite some time that Edward Berger has been in line to direct a big blockbuster, with rumours at one stage linking him with the next James Bond film. He’d shot down that particular story though.Turns out it looks like right genre, wrong franchise.
Berger now looks set to take on the next instalment of the Bourne series, taking the mantle from Paul Greengrass who has directed three of the previous five entries. Ever since Edward Berger’s All Quiet On The Western Front picked up the Best International Picture gong at the 2023 Oscars, Berger has found himself in great demand.
According to a new listing at Production Weekly (via Dark Horizons), the next Bourne film is now set up and ready to go at Universal Pictures. The sixth film in the series will reportedly be called The Bourne Dilemma and Edward Berger is in place to write and direct. While it isn’t yet confirmed, Matt Damon is expected to return and lead the film as Jason Bourne.
Speaking on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert earlier this year, Damon commented publicly on the rumours that he would be returning, stating, “There’s a great director, Edward Berger, who directed All Quiet On The Western Front,” Damon said. “He said he had an idea, so he’s working on it. I hope it’s great and that we can do it.”
It looks then, like everything is coming together nicely, although the actor did add “At some point someone’s going to have to take over. I’m not getting any younger.”
At 54, the actor is still younger than Tom Cruise – surely the benchmark for any ageing action star so we’re not quite sure what he’s worried about there. As for Berger, Universal will likely be hoping that the acclaimed director can breathe new life into a series which peaked commercially and critically with a couple of Greengrass’ films, parts two and three of the original trilogy.
That three-film arc concluded in 2007 and since then, attempts to wrestle the franchise back into a state of relevance have met with mixed results. Damon did not return for 2012’s The Bourne Legacy and whilst he both he and Greengrass reunited for 2016’s Jason Bourne, the film made over $400m at the global box office, amid middling reviews.
Universal Pictures will be hoping that Berger can bring some of his magic to the series and he steps into the director’s chair. As well as the afoementioned All Quiet On The Western Front, Berger’s next film is Conclave, a papal drama with a stacked cast that has picked up strong early reviews. That releases here in the UK next month. We’ll bring you more on The Bourne Dilemma as we hear it.
