The Bourne Legacy has added Stacy Keach to its cast, but Universal Studios hasn't confirmed the actor's role or even his character's name.

The man best known for playing the lead role in the '80s television series The New Mike Hammer will appear in the latest film in the Bourne franchise.

This fourth outing is set in the same universe as the first three films, but will train its focus on a new character while Jason Bourne himself takes a breather.

Jeremy Renner plays the new film's lead, while Joan Allen and Albert Finney reprise their roles from previous Bourne movies. Edward Norton and Rachel Weisz also star.

The film is written and directed by Tony Gilroy, who wrote the previous three entries in the series. Source: www.totalfilm.com

Edward Norton to play The Bourne Legacy’s villain? [13th July 2011 10:29:44]

Edward Norton is close to signing on to play the villain in The Bourne Legacy.

Variety report that the former Hulk actor is in negotiations for the mysterious role.

If Norton signs on the dotted line, he'll be going up against new franchise lead Jeremy Renner, who's taking on the hero role in the Matt Damon-lite system reset.

Directed by Tony Gilroy, Legacy will also star the recently married Rachel Weisz, and takes place in the same world as the previous Bourne films ? albeit minus their titular hero.

It's been a while since Norton did something that not only capitalised on his considerable ability to play a total bastard, but also got our blood seriously pumping.

Legacy promises to do both those things, and for that it gets a round of applause.

The Bourne Legacy opens 3 August 2012. Source: www.totalfilm.com

Rachel Weisz bound for The Bourne Legacy [11th May 2011 03:41:40]

Just in case you're wondering, yes, Rachel Weisz is back.

Having kept a relatively low profile since her last big movie outing, The Lovely Bones in 2009, Weisz recently entered talks to play evil witch Theodora in Sam Raimi's Oz, The Great And Powerful.

Now the Brit actress has begun negotiations to also join The Bourne Legacy. A pseudo-reboot of the Matt Damon-led franchise, Jeremy Renner is already attached as the series' new lead.

Weisz is currently interested in playing the role of an operative from a covert government program that is similar to the Treadstone brainwashing program that created Bourne.

However, the scheduling of Oz and Bourne could mean that Weisz will only be able to join one of the films.
Which presents her with an interesting choice ? the actress has favoured both political dramas and out-of-this-world fantasy in her past, but which will win out this time?
The Bourne Legacy commences filming this September with director/writer Tony Gilroy. Source: www.totalfilm.com

Jeremy Renner will head up The Bourne Legacy [22nd April 2011 00:01:02]

It's time to call off the search, because Jeremy Renner has officially been offered the lead in the next Bourne film, The Bourne Legacy.

After an exhaustive search by Universal Pictures for somebody capable of filling Matt Damon's sizeable shoes in the fourth Bourne film, they appear to have their man in Renner.

Which means Bourne fans can all breathe a sigh of relief. Renner's casting puts to bed fears that Universal would cast a fresh young reboot-happy twink (think Zac Efron) in the role.

With Renner, though, they've found an actor who's the same age as Damon (yes, 40), and has shown similarly formidable chops in both the acting and action departments.
Renner seems to be the go-to guy for big action reboots at the moment. The Hurt Locker star was also recently drafted in to appear in the next Mission: Impossible movie, and possibly continue that series in Tom Cruise's stead.

This fourth Bourne sequel will be set in the same universe as the first three films, but will train its focus on a new character while Bourne himself takes a breather.

The film has been written and will be directed by Tony Gilroy, who also contributed the scripts for the Damon-led Bourne films.

Filming kicks off this September, with a release date of 3 August, 2012 in place. Source: www.totalfilm.com

Rumour: Jeremy Renner the favourite for Bourne Legacy lead [3rd April 2011 08:04:41]

The current word on the net is that Jeremy Renner is about to be offered the lead role in Tony Gilroy's The Bourne Legacy.

This rumour, which should be consumed with a big pinch of sodium chloride, comes courtesy of Latino Review.

Oddly, Renner wasn't said to be writer-director Gilroy's first choice: that accolade fell to Oscar Issac (Robin Hood, Sucker Punch), but Universal Pictures vetoed that leftfield choice in favour of the more bankable Renner.

Whoever finally gets the lead role won't actually be replacing Matt Damon (there's a hope he might reprise his role further down the line), but will be a new character appearing in a parallel storyline.

Expect the protagonist to be another Treadstone agent with similar skills to Jason Bourne.

It has been one of the most hotly-contested roles of recent months, with names as diverse as James Franco, Shia Labeouf, Jake Gyllenhaal and Paul Dano, among others, touted.

Renner certainly has the requisite action brawn and, vitally, the acting ability to hold a candle to Damon, but a Bourne-less Legacy still sounds like a tough sell.

And, on a skeptical note, it'll be interesting to see if Renner will actually be able to fit Legacy into his franchise-heavy schedule, amidst playing Hawkeye in The Avengers (and possibly more Marvel movies), and potentially carrying future Mission: Impossible installments. Source: www.totalfilm.com

Jake Gyllenhaal to take on The Bourne Legacy? [25th February 2011 07:06:50]

Jake Gyllenhaal could be about to replace Matt Damon as the macho man-hero of the Bourne film series.

The Source Code star is currently heading up a list of promising young actors who writer-director Tony Gilroy is considering for his Bourne Legacy.

Other actors on that list include Tobey Maguire, Garrett Hedlund, Taylor Kitsch and Kellan Lutz, though apparently a much longer list includes the likes of Josh Hartnett, Paul Dano, Michael Fassbender and Alex Pettyfer.

The bigger names are apparently mostly at the behest of Universal, who are understandably antsy that they get their casting on this new Bourne adventure 100% right.

Gilroy, though, seems to know exactly who he wants ? but isn't telling yet. Still, he's requesting that all the actors screen test, and apparently isn't against the idea of casting an unknown talent.

This new Bourne film will deal with the ramifications of the end of Ultimatum while pushing a new hero to the forefront of the narrative, giving Bourne himself a breather after all that jumping and fighting.
Who'll emerge victorious? We imagine scheduling and a no-doubt multiple film contract will play a key role in who falls by the wayside. But Jake as a new action hero? Now that we'd like to see. Source: www.totalfilm.com