Matt Damon would only return to Jason Bourne for “incredible” story

He waited over a decade before returning as Jason Bourne but last year Matt Damon jumped back into the role with director Paul Greengrass in the fourth film in the series (well, technically fifth if you include Jeremy Renner-starrer The Bourne Legacy). However, reactions were perhaps not what the duo had hoped and may have influenced Damon’s decision to keep his distance.

Speaking on the franchise to The Toronto Sun, Damon admitted that it would take something pretty spectacular to get him back and that perhaps the franchise has now run its natural course, saying:

“It would have to be a pretty incredible story to get us all back on the horse… This last one didn’t do as well as the one we did 10 years ago, so maybe people are done with the character,”

Reading between the lines, it sounds like Damon is perhaps done with Bourne and not even a huge paycheck will entice him back. Indeed if Damon doesn’t return its almost a given that Greengrass will follow suit and it could spell the end of the franchise, at least for now. And with The Bourne Legacy failing to make a splash when it was released in 2012, it could be that the entire endeavour may be away for some time.

Jason Bourne is available now on Blu-ray and DVD.