BOURNE AGAIN?

Written by Matthew Pejkovic

The hunt is on for Matt Damon’s replacement in the Bourne series.

The fourth instalment of the action franchise titled The Bourne Legacy, will focus on a new super agent, perhaps a brother of Damon’s Jason Bourne, who revolts against his black-op creators.

Written and directed by Tony Gilroy (Duplicity), the series looks to be in capable hands, with Gilroy having scripted all 3 Bourne movies.

Now it’s time to find a young leading man capable of filling Damon’s absence, and front a big action thriller.

Here are some suggestions...

ARMIE HAMMER

Rising thesp Armie Hammer is riding on the wave of his heart breathtaking turn as the Winklevoss twins in The Social Network.

Standing over 6 feet, the muscular framed Hammer is one of many linked to the role of Clark Kent / Superman in Zack Snyder’s Man of the Steel.

If jumping over buildings doesn’t work out, then perhaps jumping across rooftops will.

Besides, with a name like Armie Hammer, this guy needs to be in an action movie, stat!

XAVIER SAMUEL

Since his breakthrough turn as an evil vampire in Twilight: Eclipse, Australian Xavier Samuel has delivered impressive performances in back to back horror movies The Loved Ones and Road Train.

With that world firmly conquered, Samuel should next look to the action genre, with the Bourne Legacy movie a perfect fit for the burgeoning young actor, who brings a known name, physical presence, and more than familiar similarity to Damon.

ALEX O’LOUGHLIN

Alex O’Loughlin has been around for a while, the Australian actor receiving a cult following from the short lived TV series Moonlight.

Although currently headlining the revamped Hawaii Five-O series, O’Loughlin’s foray into American movies has been less successful, with the panned rom-com The Back-up Plan his only major Hollywood movie.

That could change with The Bourne Legacy, a film which can utilise O’Loughlin’s ability to do action and draw punters.

JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT

A major strength of the first Bourne movie was its ability to sell Matt Damon as an action star, an unexpected turn from an actor who until that part, mostly starred in dramatic films.

A name actor on the brink of mega success, Gordon-Levitt brings qualities that most actors on this list don’t possess, namely a reputation as a credible actor needed to continue a credible franchise, and a reputation as a liberal activist which works well for the series’ left leaning undertones.

GARRETT HEDLUND

With TRON: Legacy soon upon us, it won’t take long for Garrett Hedlund to become a household name, and with every hot young actor to succeed, a franchise is needed.

Considering it took over 20 years to get a TRON sequel up and running, perhaps Hedlund should look up to The Bourne Legacy as his next project.

After all, the franchise is in need of an upcoming leading man, who can handle action scenes. Hedlund could be that actor.

JAMES FRANCO

Rumour has it that Tony Gilroy has James Franco on the top of his list, and there is good reason for that.  
 
Franco is perhaps the best all rounder in the movies. A versatile character actor, he is not afraid to mix dramatic film with genre pics, earning equal praise for both.

Playing a rebellious super spy would suit him well. The only problem is timing, with Franco currently filming Rise of the Apes. Can he juggle two tent pole films? Let’s hope so.