Praising All Quiet On The Western Front director Edward Berger, Matt Damon has teased a possible return as Jason Bourne. “I hope it’s great and that we can do it.”
In November, news emerged that a sixth Bourne film was in development, and that Edward Berger, who broke through with his Oscar-winning war film All Quiet On The Western Front, would direct.
At the time, it wasn’t clear whether or not Matt Damon would return to the title role, though the thinking was that he’d make a decision based on whether there was a story or script he’d happy to participate in.
Speaking on an edition of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (as spotted by World Of Reel), however, Damon appeared to be the bearer of good news. Praising Berger’s skill as a filmmaker, he said that the director had “an idea” for another Bourne film.
“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.”
Despite Colbert’s repeated prodding, Damon remained coy as to whether he had definitively agreed to return as Bourne; “At some point someone’s going to have to take over,” he laughed. “I’m not getting any younger.”
Colbert did, however, note that Damon had been working out a lot of late. “Somebody’s prepping for something,” Colbert said, squeezing Damon’s no doubt muscular arm.
You can see the bit of the interview in question in the YouTube clip below – it’s at the 4:58 mark, roughly.
It’s not a definitive yes from Damon, then, but these sorts of celebrity interviews are always closely vetted ahead of time, so he and his ‘people’ have clearly agreed to tease something about Berger’s Bourne film.
Damon has, of course, appeared in four out of the previous five Bourne films – the only exception being 2012’s The Bourne Legacy, which, through no fault of the lovely Jeremy Renner, who took on the lead, wasn’t exactly great. Director Paul Greengrass and Damon reunited for 2016’s Jason Bourne, which felt far less essential than the terrific original trilogy kicked off by Doug Liman in 2002.
More news on a potential Bourne 6 as we get it.
