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Edward Berger is still holding out hope to work with Matt Damon's amnesiac assassin. Last month, it was confirmed that NBCUniversal had signed a massive deal to keep Robert Ludlum’sJason Bourne book series under its umbrella for the foreseeable future, ensuring there would indeed be more action-packed adventures from the former CIA agent after his last on-screen appearance nearly a decade ago. The agreement renewed hopes that the Conclave director, whose Bourne 6appeared to have stalled out, might still happen with him at the helm. In a recent interview, for his latest effort, Ballad of a Small Player, he reiterated his desire for the franchise. He offered an...

Prime Video’s opening stretch of September is busy: a hefty Monday catalog wave, a midweek new release, and a Friday spy thriller to cap things off. Below you’ll find every film scheduled from Monday, September 1, through Sunday, September 7, with a quick snapshot of what each one’s about and who made it.

Each entry notes its arrival day inside the paragraphs, so you can queue things up in the order you like. Monday is the big drop, Wednesday adds a new action title, and Friday brings a sleek espionage opener.

‘Black Bag’ (2025) Casey Silver Productions

Arriving Friday, September 5, ‘Black Bag’ follows British intelligence officer George Woodhouse, who’s...

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This September, Prime Video is bringing you a lot of entertainment, from the much-anticipated release of the second season of Gen V to the streaming release of several new films, including Black Bag and Novocaine. However, for the purposes of this article, we are only including the films that are coming to Prime Video this month and have an 85% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score. So, check out the 7 best films that are coming to Prime Video in September 2025 with an 85% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score.

A Monster Calls (September 1) Rt Score: 86% Credit – Focus Features

A Monster Calls is...

In September, Prime Video will be the home of big movie premieres, new seasons of television and the return of the popular streaming franchise “The Boys.”

The second season of “Gen V” will premiere Sept. 17 on the streaming service, a college-set spin-off of Erik Kripke’s explicit superhero adaptation, “The Boys.” The new episodes will see the supes of Godolkin University return in the wake of the first season’s shocking finale — and the world-altering events at the end of “The Boys” Season 4.

“Gen V” isn’t the only series streaming on Prime in September. “The Runarounds,” a new series from the creators of “Outer Banks,” will launch on the first of the month.

Matt Damon is an actor of every genre. From his heartfelt drama performance in Good Will Hunting to his villainous turn in sci-fi Interstellar to playing Odysseus in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming historical epic The Odyssey, he fits like a glove in his roles. For the fans of Damon’s action films, September will be a great month as the Bourne franchise just got more accessible.

Starting September 1, The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Legacy, The Bourne Supremacy,andThe Bourne Ultimatum will all be available to stream on the same service. The Bourne franchise made Damon a household name around the world as fans waited year after year to see another...

In 2002, Pierce Brosnan starred in his final James Bond movie, Die Another Day. That same year, Matt Damon changed the spy genre forever with his starring role in the action thriller The Bourne Identity.

23 years later, The Bourney Identity remains popular with audiences, as FlixPatrol is reporting that the movie has landed in AMC+'s Top 10 chart in the United States, coming in at No. 6, under Nautilus, Clown in a Cornfield, Monster Island, The Walking Dead: Dead City, and John Wick. Based on Robert Ludlum's 1980 novel of the same name, The Bourne Identity was a grounded spy thriller about its amnesiac title character, played by Damon, who is forced...

After an intense bidding battle, Universal Pictures has secured the film and television rights to the Jason Bourne franchise “in perpetuity,” granting the studio permanent control over the series.

Several sources indicate Netflix, Apple, and another undisclosed studio were also pursuing the rights, but Universal ultimately prevailed.

Closed just days ago, the agreement marks a significant victory for the studio and solidifies its hold on one of its most valuable action properties.

In a press statement, Universal Pictures President Peter Cramer shared, "The Bourne franchise reshaped the spy genre with groundbreaking action films. We’re energized to expand this universe with new stories for global audiences."

Jeffrey Weiner, chairman and CEO of Captivate Entertainment and the executor of Ludlum’s estate, added, "We are thrilled that the Bourne franchise will remain at Universal. We look forward to working with the Universal team to expand the Bourne franchise across Universal’s varied platforms.

Fantastic Four: First Steps Closing In On John Wick 4’s Global Box Office Record ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

In addition to winning over critics and cinephiles and earning an 86% Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score, a 91% audience score, and a solid 7.3/10 IMDb rating, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is currently among the top ten highest-grossing movies of 2025 globally. Its global earnings have already outgrossed major 2025 releases, including Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, Sinners, and Final Destination: Bloodlines. However, surpassing Brad Pitt’s F1 and James Gunn’s Superman looks unlikely.

Recently, Marvel’s latest Fantastic Four reboot has also surpassed the lifetime grosses of Men in Black II (2002), The Mummy Returns (2001), The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023), and Terminator Genisys (2015). The superhero movie is now closing in on the highest-grossing John Wick film. Here’s how First Steps compares with the John Wick franchise at the global box office.

18 Years of No Country for Old Men (2007): This series is a look back at the films of debatably one of the seminal years for cinema in this millennium, 2007. In my mid teens, this year was one that contributed to my budding cinephilia and directed me to some of the best works of the greatest filmmakers of this generation, which then lead me further back in cinema history to the gateway films that firmly established my love of films to this day. A decade on, 2007 is still one of the most important and relevant years in my life as a film-lover.

The filmography of the Coen brothers is reasonably vast at this point, as their dry tar-black humour has been implemented into crime-thrillers, screwball comedy, stoner comedy, neo noir, Western, period piece, and a film about filmmaking. It seemed like they’d done it all even by the time they...

The Fantastic Four: First Steps Worldwide Box Office ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Marvel’s latest Fantastic Four reboot is currently among the year’s top ten highest-grossing films worldwide. With a global haul of nearly $440 million, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is trailing behind Brad Pitt’s F1 and James Gunn’s Superman. Despite a sharp drop during its second weekend, it has still surpassed major 2025 titles, including Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, Sinners, and 28 Years Later.

Now, the superhero movie is just a few million away from outperforming a widely acclaimed spy thriller starring Matt Damon. Can you guess which film? Read on to find out.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps Closing In On This Matt Damon Spy Thriller

We’re talking about The Bourne Ultimatum, the critically acclaimed 2007 spy action thriller that earned a stellar 92% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes and is often regarded as the best entry in the Bourne franchise.

A heated bidding war for the future of the Bourne franchise is over, so whether we need him or not, the amnesiac assassin is set to return

What do you consider to be the end of Jason Bourne? For connoisseurs, Bourne’s story definitively ended in 2007’s The Bourne Ultimatum, which masterfully wrapped up the story that began five years earlier with The Bourne Identity. For the less discerning viewer, it ended with 2016’s scraggy and inconsequential Jason Bourne. For the three people who watched the USA Network’s 2019 series Treadstone, it ended there. So which is it?

Trick question, because Jason Bourne is never actually going to end, ever. This week, NBCUniversal has won a bidding war to acquire all non-publishing rights to Robert Ludlum’s Bourne and Treadstone properties in perpetuity. The deal, described as “very large”, means that Bourne is now firmly as much a part of Universal as Jaws,...

Universal Pictures is making sure the Jason Bourne franchise stays in its hands for good. NBCUniversal announced that the studio has officially bought all film rights to the Bourne and Treadstone books forever, except for publishing.

This deal is a big step for the spy series, giving Universal the chance to make new movies and shows based on Robert Ludlum’s stories. Fans can look forward to more action, suspense, and spy adventures in the future.

The timing is interesting. Earlier this year, in March, WME started looking for buyers for the screen rights to the Bourne series and other Ludlum properties for the author’s estate. Now Universal has taken control permanently.

Peter Cramer, president of Universal Pictures, said, “Since its debut in 2002, the iconic Bourne franchise has reshaped the spy genre with groundbreaking films that set new standards for cinematic action. We’re energized to continue expanding the...

Universal Pictures is making a big move to keep a major spy franchise firmly under its roof. After a short period of uncertainty, the studio has officially acquired all film rights, except for publishing, to the famous Jason Bourne and Treadstone book series forever. The announcement came directly from NBCUniversal.

The deal is seen as a major step in securing the future of this high-octane franchise. According to the studio, it opens the door for new movies and stories centered around the iconic spy world created by novelist Robert Ludlum.

This means fans can expect more adventures, suspense, and action in the years to come.

The timing of this acquisition is significant. Back in March, WME began shopping around the screen rights to the Bourne series and other Robert Ludlum properties on behalf of the late author’s estate. Now, Universal has stepped in to make the franchise a permanent part of its lineup.

Who’s ready for a Jason Bournaissance? After an exhaustive battle with multiple parties, NBCUniversal has acquired all rights, excluding publishing, to Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne and Treadstone book series, in perpetuity. With all the necessary pieces falling into place, NBCUniversal can move forward with new installments of the crowd-pleasing espionage property.

“Since its debut in 2002, the iconic Bourne franchise has reshaped the spy genre with groundbreaking films that set new standards for cinematic action,” said Peter Cramer, President, Universal Pictures. “We’re energized to continue expanding the Bourne universe into the future with exciting new stories for global audiences.”

According to Deadline, Ludlum regained the rights to Jason Bourne after they’d lapsed at the studio with plans to hold a high-profile auction. Seven entities went to war over the prize, including two streamers, a big-time studio, and several entrepreneurial ventures. We don’t know what NBCUniversal paid to bring Bourne back home,...

Jesus Christ, it's Jason Bourne. And this time, he's here to stay, following the blockbuster announcement that NBCUniversal has struck a sweeping deal to acquire all rights, excluding publishing, to Robert Ludlum’sJason Bourne and Treadstone book series in perpetuity. Translated for us: we're about to get more of the amnesiac CIA agent who isn't even called Jason Bourne. It's being reported today that Universal ultimately sealed the deal with an offer in excess of $100,000,000 to get the deal done.

“Since its debut in 2002, the iconic Bourne franchise has reshaped the spy genre with groundbreaking films that set new standards for cinematic action,” said Universal Pictures president Peter Cramer. “We’re energized to continue expanding the Bourne universe into the future with exciting new stories for global audiences.”

Jeffrey Weiner, chairman & CEO of Captivate Entertainment and executor of Ludlum’s estate, echoed the excitement: “We are thrilled that the ‘Bourne’ franchise will remain at Universal.

The Bourne franchise is staying with Universal. Five months after losing the rights to the spy action franchise, the studio has reacquired them for good.

Per Variety, NBCUniversal has acquired all rights, excluding publishing, to Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne franchise, which includes the Treadstone spinoff series, in perpetuity. In a statement, Universal Pictures president Peter Cramer had the following to say about the new deal: "Since its debut in 2002, the iconic Bourne franchise has reshaped the spy genre with groundbreaking films that set new standards for cinematic action. We’re energized to continue expanding the Bourne universe into the future with exciting new stories for global audiences."

Jeffrey Weiner, who is chairman & CEO of Captivate Entertainment and the executor of Ludlum’s estate, added, "We are thrilled that the Bourne franchise will remain at Universal. We look forward to working with the Universal team to expand the Bourne franchise across Universal’s varied platforms.

After briefly exiting the studio, Jason Bourne is making Universal his permanent home.

NBCUniversal announced today that it has acquired all rights, excluding publishing, to Robert Ludlum’s popular Jason Bourne and Treadstone book series, in perpetuity.

As the studio notes, the deal fortifies the future of the Bourne franchise across the NBCUniversal arms and will pave the way for new installments for Ludlum’s beloved character and the spy world he inhabits.

The move follows the exit of the screen rights in March, when WME began shopping the rights to the spy franchise and the rest of the Robert Ludlum library on behalf of the late author’s estate.

“Since its debut in 2002, the iconic Bourne franchise has reshaped the spy genre with groundbreaking films that set new standards for cinematic action,” said Universal Pictures president Peter Cramer in a statement. “We’re energized to continue expanding the Bourne...

NBCUniversal has acquired all rights, excluding publishing, to Robert Ludlum’s “Jason Bourne” and “Treadstone” book series, in perpetuity. The deal paves the way for new installments for Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne, a CIA assassin suffering from amnesia.

A source with knowledge of the deal tells Variety it was a highly competitive bidding situation that drew seven offers from both streamers and studios before a massive nine-figure proposal was brought back to Universal.

“Since its debut in 2002, the iconic Bourne franchise has reshaped the spy genre with groundbreaking films that set new standards for cinematic action,” said Universal Pictures president Peter Cramer. “We’re energized to continue expanding the Bourne universe into the future with exciting new stories for global audiences.”

Jeffrey Weiner, chairman & CEO of Captivate Entertainment and the executor of Ludlum’s estate, added, “We are thrilled that the ‘Bourne’ franchise will remain at Universal. We look...

It looks like Jason Bourne hasn’t thrown his last punch at the studio he’s called home for over two decades. Following an extensive auction, NBCUniversal has acquired all rights, excluding publishing, to Robert Ludlum’s revered Jason Bourne and Treadstone book series, in perpetuity, the company said Wednesday. The deal fortifies the future of the Bourne franchise across the NBCU universe, paving the way for new installments and a continued legacy for Ludlum’s beloved character and the spy world he inhabits.

“Since its debut in 2002, the iconic Bourne franchise has reshaped the spy genre with groundbreaking films that set new standards for cinematic action,” said Peter Cramer, President, Universal Pictures. “We’re energized to continue expanding the Bourne universe into the future with exciting new stories for global audiences.”

Sources tell Deadline that the earlier this year, the Ludlum estate took the rights back out market after...

Universal is sticking with Jason Bourne.

NBCUniversal has acquired all rights, excluding publishing, to Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne and Treadstone book series, in perpetuity, the company announced Wednesday.

“The deal fortifies the future of the ‘Bourne’ franchise across the NBCUniversal enterprise, paving the way for new installments and a continued legacy for Ludlum’s beloved character and the spy world he inhabits,” according to the official release. They can now utilize the character and world across multiple formats including film, television and streaming.

With the new agreement, producer Frank Marshall will continue to shepherd the forthcoming installments of the film series, as he has since the beginning, along with Captivate’s Jeffrey Weiner and Ben Smith. Captivate has managed the rights for the Ludlum estate since 2001.

Universal has released five films in the franchise since 2002 – “The Bourne Identity” (which established Matt Damon as the amnesiac spy), “The Bourne Supremacy,...

Matt Damon Replaces Oscar Winner (Photo Credit – Hotstar)

Hollywood actor Matt Damon is regarded as one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood. Initially, he gained recognition when he played the lead role in Francis Ford Coppola’s legal drama ‘The Rainmaker.’ He climbed the popularity charts by starring in the Oscar-winning drama ‘Good Will Hunting’ and the psychological thriller ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’. But the film that made him a household name was ‘The Bourne Identity’. Did you know Matt Damon was not the first actor who was approached to play the lead role in that film?

Matt Damon Replaced This Oscar Winner in The Bourne Identity

Before Matt Damon was finally cast as the titular protagonist in ‘The Bourne Identity’, another Hollywood star was approached for the role of Jason Bourne. And he was none other than the Academy Award-winning actor-filmmaker Brad Pitt. Brad Pitt could not star...

There was a period when Jeremy Renner was on a winning streak. After landing a role in Kathryn Bigelow's award-winning war drama, "The Hurt Locker," he was appearing everywhere. Besides following it up with an impressive performance in the Ben Affleck-directed heist movie, "The Town," he then started switching between spy stories and superhero outings in three of the biggest franchises at that time.

After joining the Imf alongside Tom Cruise in "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" and drawing back his bow with Earth's Mightiest Heroes in "The Avengers," Renner dared to try and pick up the slack left by Matt Damon's amnesiac assassin, Jason Bourne, in the spin-off espionage thriller "The Bourne Legacy." While it received a lukewarm reception at the time and a so-so success at the box office, it feels that, even riding off of the "The Avengers," Renner's run in the Bourne-verse stands...

At Star Wars Celebration in 2023, Lucasfilm revealed its plans for a new Star Wars movie revolving around Daisy Ridley's Rey Skywalker. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is still attached to direct the movie, which has been through multiple writers since it was first announced.

Now, with The Adjustment Bureau and The Bourne Ultimatum's George Nolfi hard at work on the latest draft, scooper Daniel Richtman (via SFFGazette.com) has shared some new insights into Lucasfilm's post-The Rise of Skywalker plans.

He explains that it will be similar to the "Mandoverse," with multiple stories told in that period. The first of those is expected to be Daily Ridley's New Jedi Order, an indication that Star Wars: Starfighter may not be part of this slate.

That's been widely reported to take place 5 years after Episode IX, with the Rey-led movie set 15 years later. There may be some loose threads between them, but...

Star Wars reportedly has big plans for Daisy Ridley's Rey and the New Jedi Order era. After years of struggles getting a new Star Wars movie off the ground after 2019's The Rise of Skywalker, Lucasfilm announced three new flicks in 2023. While none of the line-up appears any closer to release than then, one was promised to bring back Daisy Ridley as Rey for the first time since the sequels. 

Directed by Oscar-winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, the untitled flick will be set 15 years after Episode IX as Rey, now a Jedi Master, forms a New Jedi Order. Recently, there were reports that the New Jedi Order movie is "temporarily on hold" but notably is "not canceled." The post-sequels flick has already been through multiple writers, with The Bourne Ultimatum scribe George Nolfi currently attached and Obaid-Chinoy still onboard to direct.

Scooper Daniel Richtman seemingly revealed new details about Star Wars'...

Matthew McConaughey has been absent from live-action leading roles on the big screen since he last featured in The Gentlemen for Guy Ritchie, but now he’s back with a new thriller that just got an exciting look. As part of Collider's Exclusive Preview event, we’re thrilled to partner with Apple TV+ to exclusively unveil a new image of McConaughey and America Ferrera (Barbie) in The Lost Bus, the upcoming thriller that will be released in select theaters on September 19 ahead of its worldwide premiere on Apple TV+ on October 3. In addition to McConaughey and Ferrera, The Lost Bus also stars Yul Vasquez (Severance), Ashlie Atkinson (The Gilded Age), and Spencer Watson (Them). The film was written by Paul Greengrass and Brad Inglesby, with Greengrass also directing and both writers producing alongside Jason Blum, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Gregory Goodman.

The Lost Bus is a white-knuckle thrill-ride through...

Werner Herzog's film "Rescue Dawn" (which hit U.S. theaters in the summer of 2007) was a semi-fictionalized retelling of his own 1997 documentary "Little Dieter Needs to Fly." The documentary followed Dieter Dengler, a German-American pilot whose plane was shot down during the Vietnam War, leading to his imprisonment and torture in a jungle-bound Pow camp. Herzog took Dengler back to Laos and Thailand to relive his experiences there. "Rescue Dawn" extends the re-creation into a full scripted drama. Dengler was played by Christian Bale, giving an intense and marvelous performance. Meanwhile, Steve Zahn and Jeremy Davies co-star as American soldiers who've been captured alongside Dieter.

Herzog, always a stickler for authenticity, went back to Thailand to film in the locations where Dengler was lost and staged his escape. Notably, "Rescue Dawn" marked the first time Herzog ever used CGI in a movie, as he employed it to animate Dengler's initial plane crash.

Academy Award nominee Paul Greengrass brings the gripping tale of one of America’s deadliest wildfires to life in The Lost Bus.

The Apple Original Films thriller, starring Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey and Emmy winner America Ferrera, will have its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival before arriving in select theaters on Sept. 19 and streaming on Apple TV+ starting Oct. 3.

What's it about?

Inspired by real events, The Lost Bus is a white-knuckle ride through one of America’s deadliest wildfires, as a wayward school bus driver (McConaughey) and a dedicated school teacher (Ferrera) battle to save 22 children from the terrifying inferno.

Who's in the cast?

In addition to McConaughey and Ferrera, Yul Vazquez, Ashlie Atkinson, and Spencer Watson also star in the film.

Watch the trailer Who directed it?

The Lost Bus is directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Paul Greengrass, whose acclaimed credits include Bloody Sunday (2002), The Bourne Ultimatum...

Brad Pitt’s F1 Beats John Wick 4 & The Bourne Ultimatum At The Global Box Office(Photo Credit –Facebook/Prime Video)

Brad Pitt is currently riding high on the critical and commercial success of his Formula One sports drama F1, which is still running in theaters. The high-octane car racing movie is performing exceptionally well globally and is now racing towards the $500 million benchmark. And in doing that, it has already outgrossed several other popular films, including Matt Damon’s The Bourne Ultimatum and Keanu Reeves’ John Wick: Chapter 4. Read on to find out how much F1 is already ahead of these two action blockbusters.

Rewatched the Bourne trilogy. I’m still impressed with how The Bourne Ultimatum sticks the landing. I appreciate that the film didn’t try to retcon Bourne as a good person. While the series is about atonement, there is no clear absolution of him. Just a damn great ending.

Having already established itself as the highest-grossing film ever produced by a tech company, Apple’s F1 is racing towards the coveted $500 million milestone at the global box office. In its fourth weekend of release, the movie zoomed past the $450 million mark thanks to another solid hold, despite fresh competition from a trio of new releases that all underperformed. Starring Brad Pitt, F1 remains in a contest with holdover hits such as Jurassic World Rebirth and James Gunn’s Superman. In a few days, it’ll have to fend off additional competition from Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps. But it can bask in the glory of becoming the year’s biggest original blockbuster, having overtaken Ryan Coogler’s Sinners.

With $155 million domestically and another $307 million from overseas markets, F1 has grossed a cumulative total of $460 million worldwide. This puts the movie ahead of Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga’s A Star is Born,...

It’s time for Liam Neeson to pass on the aged action hero baton to another. While the Taken star’s continuing domination of the genre at 73 may be impressive, it’s nothing compared to this Daredevilstar who, at 86 years old, is all set to become our new favorite senior with a particular set of skills.

The Daredevil star chosen to take the lead in the first trailer for this killer new thriller is none other than acclaimed actor Scott Glenn. Alongside his role as Matt Murdock’s harsh-but-wise mentor, Stick, in the Marvel series, Glenn is best-recognized for the likes of The Right Stuff, The Silence of the Lambs, Backdraft, Training Day, The Bourne Ultimatum, The Leftovers, and more. Now, he takes on possibly his most challenging role yet as a former marine who finds himself at the center of a deadly game with a serial killer.

The first...

Over the course of three movies, Matt Damon brought Jason Bourne — a character first crafted by author Robert Ludlum — to life in a series of films that some know as The Bourne Trilogy. After unfurling the character’s mysterious spy background and sending him on numerous missions, the time eventually came to pass the baton, with Jeremy Renner picking up the torch and continuing the high-octane franchise in 2012’s The Bourne Legacy. Now, more than a full decade since the divisive film first crashed into cinemas, it’s receiving a boost of new life thanks to its streaming arrival on Paramount+. According to FlixPatrol, the Tony Gilroy-directed and co-penned production is clocking in on the Top 10 chart in numerous countries, including Bolivia, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela, alongside other popular titles such as Gladiator II and Top Gun: Maverick.

Although the first movie in the then-blossoming franchise, 2002’s The Bourne Identity,...

Without exactly repeating that famous William Goldman adage for the umpteenth time, it's basically a truism that in Hollywood, nobody knows what's going to work. That goes for actors as much as studio execs, as evidenced by the fact Will Smith turned down both "The Matrix" and "Inception" — the latter because he "didn't get it." Meanwhile, there are plenty of iconic horror roles actors regret turning down, and I'd imagine several of the actors who said "no" to the "Harry Potter" franchise probably felt a tinge of remorse.

Perhaps not quite as mortifying as Smith turning down two of the biggest sci-fi blockbusters of all time, but almost as frustrating, was Brad Pitt's decision to choose a particularly mediocre espionage actioner over what became a modern classic of a spy flick. Back in 2000, the actor was, according to Variety, offered the role of Jason Bourne in the seminal 2002 spy thriller "The Bourne Identity.

It shouldn't be all that surprising that action franchises built around one unstoppable hero have a tough time extending their cinematic worlds beyond that central figure. Lionsgate is the latest studio to struggle in that regard, with John Wick himself proving to be the biggest problem with building out that particular cinematic universe. Try as they might, the studio and its burgeoning on-screen world can't escape the shadow of the Baba Yaga, as evidenced by the disappointment that was TV spin-off "The Continental." With the latest movie spin-off, "Ballerina," struggling at the box office, it looks like the John Wick saga might be dead in the water — at least until Keanu Reeves agrees to come back for one more round.

But the "John Wick" saga is far from the first action franchise to encounter this issue. Just look at the Jason Bourne films. Back in 2002, director Doug Liman and star...

What's your favorite Batman performance to date? For some, it's an easy pick. Even if your top choice isn't Ben Affleck from Zack Snyder's DC Universe, fans were certainly excited to see the Caped Crusader face off against the Man of Steel in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice back in 2016. Affleck won the part over a number of actors who auditioned for the coveted superhero role, including underrated action legend Scott Adkins (Undisputed), as confirmed during MovieWeb's recent interview with the action star. MovieWeb caught up with Adkins while he was promoting his latest filmDiablo, and the famed martial artist noted that his connection to Affleck didn't end with Batman. They'll be spotted together in Netflix's upcoming film The Rip.

"I'm Ben Affleck's brother in that. And that was gonna happen at some point, I suppose, because we bear a resemblance, apparently," Adkins told MovieWeb. "I worked...

The Daisy Ridley-led Star Wars film is reportedly facing another major hurdle during development as Lucasfilm begins to focus on other upcoming feature-length projects. The next chapter in Rey Skywalker's storyline is currently set to be directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (Ms. Marvel), but it appears that Star Wars fans will have to wait even longer to hear good news about the film.

According to industry insider Daniel Richtman, Lucasfilm has put the long-gestating Rey Star Wars film on hold. Rumored to be titled New Jedi Order, the project has seen a rotating crew of writers, with the latest being George Nolfi. However, it seems other Star Wars films are taking precedent at the studio, including Shawn Levy's Starfighter and James Mangold's Dawn of the Jedi. Richtman states that the Rey movie is "not canceled," but it is now on the backburner for the foreseeable future. Of course,...

With episodes 8 and 9, the storytelling of Andor Season 2 broke barriers, glass ceilings, and IMDb records, and showrunner Tony Gilroy’s wife had something to say about that.

The slow, creeping, eerie tension that builds over the first seven episodes explodes in “Who Are You?” when the Empire commits genocide on Ghorman, opening fire on a peaceful gathering of protestors. In the next episode, “Welcome to the Rebellion,” Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) stands up against it with the help of Alderaan’s Bail Organa (Benjamin Bratt). She openly blames Emperor Palpatine for the atrocities and warns the galaxy that a similar fate awaits them all.

Mon’s Senate speech after the Ghorman Massacre was already part of Star Wars canon. We find out in Star Wars Rebels Season 3 episode 18, “Secret Cargo,” that the Chandrilan Senator defects from the Empire and reaches Dantooine to call for the official formation of the Rebel Alliance.

Following Wish You Were Here’s release, the actor answers your questions about Sunday roasts, being kept on her toes by Paul Greengrass and especially villainous villains

Hi Julia. What’s it like being directed by Paul Greengrass with his fast-cut, handheld camera, reportage style? Do you have to approach your acting in a different way? HighPriest1967

Paul is an extraordinary director, a visionary director, and I absorbed so much by watching him work. He comes from documentary, so even though he was filming these elaborate, very expensive, complicated action sequences, he was still able to see things happening spontaneously. I remember when we were shooting The Bourne Ultimatum in Tangier, running through those windy streets. Normally as an actor, you turn a corner and you think you’re off camera, so you’d stop. But you could never do that with Paul because there might be a camera around the corner.

John Boyega is "hoping Daisy [Ridley] gets that chance to shine" in ‘Star Wars: New Jedi Order’.The 33-year-old actor appeared opposite Ridley, also 33, from 2015’s ‘Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens’ to ‘Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker’ as Resistance hero Finn, and has now revealed he hopes his former co-star will get the opportunity to impress as Rey Skywalker "in a franchise that’s finally hers" through ‘New Jedi Order’.During an appearance on the ‘Happy Sad Confused’ podcast, Boyega said: "It made sense to expand the franchise in that way. "I'm just looking forward, first of all to see if it's real, because we have had a few ‘Star Wars’ announcements - you know, in development, they can't quite get it done. "I'm just hoping that Daisy gets that chance to shine in a franchise that's finally hers, as a Jedi that's fully qualified,...

After watching Andor, I’m fully convinced, Tony Gilroy is the only one who should bring Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne back for one last ride. Gilroy’s grip on morally grey heroes, espionage, and gritty tension is unmatched. And, he already helped shape the Bourne franchise’s best moments.

With Andor, he proved he can blend politics, rebellion, and raw emotion without losing an ounce of intensity. Bourne’s always been a patriot at heart, tangled in a system that betrayed him. And if anyone can give that legacy the sendoff it deserves, it’s Gilroy – no amnesia about it.

Tony Gilroy and Matt Damon’s final Bourne will be the perfect finale Matt Damon as Jason Bourne in The Bourne Identity (2002) | Credits: Universal Pictures

After watching Andor, I couldn’t shake one thought: Tony Gilroy has to make Matt Damon’s final Bourne movie. No one captures paranoia,...

Is there a real life connection with Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne?(Photo Credit –Netflix)

Diehard movie buffs already know that the Matt Damon-starrer action thriller movie ‘The Bourne Identity’ was based on Robert Ludlum’s 1980 novel bearing the same name. In the movie and the novel, the central character is Jason Bourne, who is equipped with outstanding survival skills despite not remembering anything from his past.

What if we told you that there existed a real person whose name was eerily similar to Jason Bourne, and he also suffered from a rare memory-related condition? Read on to know the super interesting details.

The Real-Life Bourne Story – Ansel Bourne

One day in the year 1887, a preacher mysteriously disappeared from Rhode Island and reappeared in Pennsylvania. He assumed the name A.J. Brown and set up a small confectionery shop there. Two months later, when he woke up utterly confused in the morning,...

Exclusive: A new theatrical distributor solely devoted to action movies is opening its doors, Rscl (pronounced “rascal”), founded by Maxwell Riesberg.

At the same time, former Universal Pictures Distribution and Marketing EVP John C. Hall has been hired as Head of Distribution & Cinema Partnerships. Hall counts more than 25 years of experience from his tenure at Universal, where he oversaw distribution and marketing for more than 400 theatrical releases, including franchise hits like Jurassic World and The Bourne Ultimatum, as well as blockbuster originals including Wanted.

“The theatrical window remains the most powerful moment in a film’s lifecycle,” says Hall. “But today’s audiences need compelling reasons to leave home, and that’s exactly what Rscl provides. By building a dedicated community around action cinema, we transform each release into a must-attend event that’s bigger than just the film itself. Theatrical is evolving toward experiences that feel essential and communal,...

Veteran stunt coordinator and second unit director Scott Rogers (Tron: Ares) will make his directorial debut with an adaptation of One Second After, the first book in the New York Times bestselling John Matherson trilogy by William R. Forstchen.

Set in the hills of North Carolina, the story follows college professor and former military officer John Matherson as he fights to preserve the lives of his family and neighbors in the wake of an electromagnetic pulse attack. In just one second, the United States is completely incapacitated, thousands are killed, and millions are stranded. Planes fall from the sky, electricity goes out everywhere, supply lines collapse, and transportation is limited to pre-digital-era vehicles and horses. Millions of travelers, unable to get home, wander the highways in search of shelter. In the resulting chaos, residents of John’s tight-knit community look to him to guide them through the difficult decisions that...

Hollywood stars who lost out on iconic roles ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

You know, like when you’re locked into one film and miss out on that other golden opportunity. It’s not always about a bad decision, sometimes it’s just about timing.

Honestly, picture it, you’re all set to play the hero, but a pesky scheduling conflict with a previous project keeps you from donning that cape. And while other actors swoop in and become legends, you’re left wondering what could’ve been. These stars found themselves trapped in other roles, missing out on iconic gigs that could’ve changed their careers. What could’ve happened if they’d had a free schedule?

Let’s dive into the stars who almost played some of Hollywood’s most unforgettable characters!

Trending The Godfather: Why Vito Corleone’s Death Is Still The Most Powerful Moment In The Franchise...

On the 25th anniversary of American Psycho, director Mary Harron reflected on the darkly satirical film’s legacy in the wake of Donald Trump’s second presidency and how misunderstood the movie remains even amid enduring popularity.

The filmmaker sat down with Leterboxd Journal, unpacking the movie’s continued relevancy and how it’s been embraced by young women in recent years, in stark contrast to a certain contingent of “Wall Street bro” that has hijacked the thriller-comedy’s critical edge.

“It was about a predatory society, and now the society is actually, 25 years later, much worse. The rich are much richer, the poor are poorer. I would never have imagined that there would be a celebration of racism and white supremacy, which is basically what we have in the White House. I would never have imagined that we would live through that,” she said.

Speaking to the distortion around the movie’s satirical nature, the Alias Grace director said she is “so mystified” by it, given that star Christian Bale is “very clearly making fun of them.”

She continued, “It was very clear to me and [writer] Guinevere [Turner], who is gay, that we saw it as a gay man’s satire on masculinity. [Author Bret Easton Ellis’s] being gay allowed him to see the homoerotic rituals among these alpha males, which is also true in sports, and it’s true in Wall Street, and all these things where men are prizing their extreme competition and their ‘elevating their prowess’ kind of thing. There’s something very, very gay about the way they’re fetishizing looks, and the gym.”

However, Harron said she is pleased to see young women gravitating toward the film, especially given how it was dismissed upon its release in 2000. “It got a lot of attacks before it came out. And the book got a lot of attacks by people who never read the book. Not that there isn’t a lot of horrific violence in the book, but there’s, to me, a clear critique. Not just of masculine behavior; it’s a critique of society, of the world of exploitation and consumption and greed and reduction of people … So I’m really delighted that young women have started liking it.”

As previously reported by Deadline, the classic is getting the reboot treatment for a new generation, with Luca Guadagnino at the helm and The Bourne Ultimatum scribe Scott Z. Burns penning the adaptation.

Justin Theroux approves of Luca Guadagnino’s potential “American Psycho” reboot. Theroux, who appeared in Mary Harron’s iconic 2000 film, told Vulture that he supports a new adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ novel, especially during the modern political climate.

Guadagnino’s version, which is being billed by Lionsgate as an entirely new adaptation of Ellis’ book, was announced in 2024 with Scott Z. Burns adapting. Austin Butler was rumored to lead the film as Patrick Bateman, the character that Christian Bale first brought to screen. However, author Ellis later said that the remake was “fake news” and that no deals for any of the aforementioned creatives are in place. Guadagnino went on to appear in a video message during Lionsgate’s CinemaCon presentation confirming his involvement in the project.

Count Theroux among those who would like to witness Guadagnino’s take on the material. Theroux told Vulture as the original film...

You probably thought the next time Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling would share screen time, it’d be in hot pink convertibles with more glitter than the plot. But surprise! This is not another Barbie movie. Instead, the two are sliding into tailored suits, vintage cars, and potentially, casino vaults, because they’re teaming up for a prequel to the Ocean’s Eleven franchise.

Yep, that Ocean’s Eleven. The one with all the suave criminal masterminding and jazz-heavy montages of people looking very serious while eating shrimp cocktails. Now, before you imagine Ken trying to crack a safe while Barbie distracts a security guard with jazz hands, take a deep breath. This is not a dollhouse caper.

Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie in Barbie | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

It’s 1960s Monte Carlo, baby. Think sleek gowns, brooding stares across blackjack tables, and explosions in the distance as someone says, “That...

Nearly 50 years ago, George Lucas’ first Star Wars movie was simply called Star Wars, and not Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope when it premiered in theaters in 1977. Now, fans of the iconic franchise will be able to see the original cut of Star Wars just as moviegoers did back then. For some, it will be re-living a childhood memory and, for others, it is a chance to see the rare, original cut for the very first time.

Per Collider, the British Film Institute (BFI) will screen Star Wars in its original, rare, unaltered 1977 glory on the opening night of BFI’s Film on Film Festival on June 12. The event will be held at BFI’s Southbank Theater in London. Those in attendance will also be treated to archives and historical material from the movie, which will include deleted scenes and Polaroid pictures taken on the movie’s set.

When it comes to iconic spy thrillers, names like Ethan Hunt and James Bond dominate the conversation. But Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne movie saga has been equally important in the action genre, and set a new standard, especially The Bourne Ultimatum.

It stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Daniel Craig’s best Bond movies as it features relentless action sequences and psychological depth. It isn’t just another spy flick but a masterclass in building tension, realism, and storytelling.

Matt Damon in The Bourne Ultimatum | Universal Pictures Why The Bourne Ultimatum stands tall against James Bond

James Bond is known for being suave and sophisticated, and even Daniel Craig’s iteration relied on high-tech gadgets. On the other hand, The Bourne Ultimatum and other movies in the franchise strip away this glamour, which makes it all feel far more raw.

Daniel Craig in a still from Skyfall | Eon Productions

You’ll see...

Luca Guadagnino is getting ready for his new take on Patrick Bateman.

Guadagnino appeared in a video segment during Lionsgate’s presentation at CinemaCon on Tuesday to tease his new feature version of American Psycho that adapts author Bret Easton Ellis‘ 1991 novel of the same name.

“We are really working hard to bring to the screen a new adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ American Psycho, a book that I deeply love that is something that influenced me so much,” the director said. After confirming that the film has a script from Scott Z. Burns, Guadagnino noted, “He’s doing an incredible job. The script is coming out very handsomely.”

Guadagnino went on to tell the crowd that he is currently in “conversation with very exciting performers to play the leads.” He said he hopes to return to CinemaCon down the road to debut footage.

American Psycho was previously adapted into...

Action thrillers can really benefit from a hero who is actually vulnerable. Otherwise, you get a Terminator rip-off. This is not to say that John Wick isn’t a great franchise that deserves all its accolades, but it fails where a character like that of Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne succeeds.

Jason Bourne || Credit: Universal Pictures

Fans are of the consensus that John Wick can often feel completely, and hilariously, invincible, given the reputation he has in the universe, and given how much he lives up to it. Jason Bourne, on the other hand, is able to the thriller aspect, with every time he is in danger feeling like he is a raw nerve.

Fans agree that Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne really sells the thriller aspect of his films Matt Damon as Jason Bourne || Credit: Universal Pictures

Jason Bourne’s stories have been effective in being action thrillers that...