Summary

• Matt Damon previously stated that he would only return to the Jason Bourne franchise if Paul Greengrass is involved.
• Jason Bourne 6 is currently in development, with filmmaker Edward Berger in talks to direct, but Damon's involvement is not confirmed.
• While Damon's return would be a draw for audiences, the franchise has succeeded without him before, so his absence wouldn't be the end of the world.

The next installment in the Jason Bourne franchise is reportedly in the works, but if Matt Damon becomes attached to the new project, he would be going against what he previously said about making another Bourne movie. Damon has played Jason Bourne, an ex-CIA assassin turned fugitive, since the first film, The Bourne Identity, premiered in 2002. The actor went on to appear in three more movies in the film series — The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, and Jason Bourne — but following the last one in 2016, it seemed as if Damon was done with the role. However, he previously claimed he would return to the franchise on one condition.

Reports that Jason Bourne 6 was in development at Universal surfaced in November 2023, seven years following the release of the fifth movie. Filmmaker Edward Berger, known for directing Jack, All My Loving, and All Quiet on the Western Front, is in talks to direct the project. However, besides Berger's involvement, not much else is known about the film because it is still in the early stages of development. Damon is not confirmed to star in it, and the movie does not even have a script yet. But if the film does feature the return of Damon as Bourne, that would mean that the actor broke his one rule for continuing the franchise.

Matt Damon Once Said He Wouldn't Make Another Jason Bourne Without Paul Greengrass

While discussing possible future Jason Bourne projects featuring his character, Matt Damon previously revealed that the only incentive that could convince him to reprise his role would be if Paul Greengrass is involved. Greengrass directed The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, and Jason Bourne, and it sounds as if Damon had a positive experience working with the filmmaker in those three movies. So, since Greengrass is not attached to Jason Bourne 6 (and Edward Berger is), some might have reason to believe that Damon will want nothing to do with the film.

Of course, many things are unknown about Jason Bourne 6, including the cast and the story. It could be a reboot of the franchise with a new actor playing the titular character, or it could revolve around Jeremy Renner's Aaron Cross. Some reports claim that Damon will be approached to appear in the sixth movie but that those conversations have yet to happen because the script isn't finished. Whatever the case, if Damon agrees to star in the future film, he would be going against his previous statement of not wanting to play Jason Bourne again if Greengrass wasn't involved.

Does Jason Bourne 6 Need Matt Damon?

If Matt Damon turns down an opportunity to appear in the next installment of the Jason Bourne franchise, it wouldn't be the end of the world. The film series has succeeded without the actor before, and there is plenty of material to work with concerning a new movie. Of course, Damon would be a big draw for audiences to see Jason Bourne 6 if he was in it, but only time will tell if the star breaks his previous rule to continue Bourne's story.