Fourth Bourne Film Moving Forward with New Director

Deadline|New York is reporting that Universal Pictures is finalizing a deal with Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton, Duplicity) to direct the fourth film in the Bourne film franchise. Gilroy wrote the screenplays for the first three Bourne films.

Tentatively titled The Bourne Legacy, the film will reportedly not be adapted from any of the existing Bourne thrillers, even though The Bourne Legacy is also the title of the fourth book in the series (and the first written by Eric Van Lustbader, following the death of Robert Ludlum, who created the character). Fans of the series are likely to be confused -- and rightfully so.

Left unsaid is whether Matt Damon will reprise his role as Jason Bourne, the international assassin of deadly repute he played in the first three films.