Matt Damon Still Open to Returning as Jason Bourne....Sorta

Been there, done that. Matt Damon threw in the towel on playing Jason Bourne after Paul Greengrass exited the franchise after 2007's The Bourne Ultimatum, and for the most part he hasn't looked back. He's stayed true to his comments that he won't consider returning unless Greengrass comes back, too, which seems highly unlikely. The franchise has moved on with Jeremy Renner taking over the lead role for The Bourne Legacy, while Damon and Greengrass have been plenty busy elsewhere. But the questions about Bourne keep coming, and Damon is still leaving the same door cracked he always has.

Talking to CNBC, Damon proves he hasn't budged on the issue one bit...

Damon: "I've always been open to it if Paul Greengrass is the director. We've just never been able to come up with a story... It felt like such a good way to end it last time. Having said that, I love that character. I'd love to see what happened to him." 

That's all well and good, but given Greengrass has stuck a dagger in any hopes of a return, that's not likely to happen and Damon knows it, which is why he's free to say stuff like this every year or so. Who knows? Maybe Universal will see the value of a Renner/Damon crossover and throw some extra cash Greengrass' way? Eh, probably not. Justin Lin is already slated to write and direct The Bourne Legacy sequel following the film's sufficient $270M box office.