Tony Gilroy Looking for Lead in Bourne Identity Spinoff

Casting News, News

Tony Gilroy, who previously wrote the original Bourne trilogy and has also written and directed Michael Clayton and Duplicity, is taking over the franchise that had been helmed by the likes of Doug Liman and Paul Greengrass.

But for this latest Bourne Identity it will be a spinoff from the original trilogy with a brand new lead.

According to Deadline, some of the actors that have met with Gilroy include:

Joel Edgerton (Animal Kingdom, upcoming remake/prequel of The Thing), Josh Hartnett, Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire, Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood), Michael Pitt (TV’s Boardwalk Empire), Oscar Isaac (Robin Hood, upcoming Sucker Punch), Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy), Michael Fassbender (Inglourious Basterds), Luke Evans (Clash of the Titans), Alex Pettyfer (most recently seen in I Am Number Four), Taylor Kitsch (TV’s Friday Night Lights), upcoming Battleship), Benjamin Walker (Flags of Our Fathers).

A loaded list of potential hires to be sure. While I’m sure actors like Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal would work, I think Tony Gilroy would be more inclined to have somebody who is a little more under the radar. Not to say that Matt Damon was an unknown when he played Jason Bourne – he had already worked with the likes of Steven Spielberg (Saving Private Ryan), Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting) and Anthony Minghella (The Talented Mr. Ripley) – but look at his career now. I’m reminded of that scene in The 40-Year-Old Virgin where Paul Rudd talks about Matt Damon while The Bourne Identity is playing. “You know, I always thought that Matt Damon was like a Streisand, but I think he’s rockin’ the shit in this one!”

If I had my pick, I’d go with Benjamin Walker. He’s already going to get some major visibility as Abraham Lincoln in the big-screen adaptation of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.

Travis Leamons is one of the Inside Pulse Originals and currently holds the position of Managing Editor at Inside Pulse Movies. He's told that the position is his until he's dead or if "The Boss" can find somebody better. I expect the best and I give the best. Here's the beer. Here's the entertainment. Now have fun. That's an order!