The Bourne Legacy

Universal Pictures originally intended The Bourne Ultimatum to be the final film in the series, but development of another film was underway by October 2008. George Nolfi who co-wrote The Bourne Ultimatum, was to write the script of a fourth film, not to be based on any of the novels by Robert Ludlum, Joshua Zetumer had been hired to write a parallel script—a draft which could be combined with another (Nolfi's, in this instance)—by August 2009 since Nolfi would be directing The Adjustment Bureau that September. Matt Damon stated in November 2009 that no script had been approved and that he hoped that a film would begin shooting in mid-2011. The next month, he said that he would not do another Bourne film without Paul Greengrass, who announced in late November that he had decided not to return as director. In January 2010, Damon said that there would "probably be a prequel of some kind with another actor and another director before we do another one just because I think we're probably another five years away from doing it.

 However, it was reported in June 2010 that Tony Gilroy would be writing a script for a fourth film to be released sometime in 2012. On October 29, Universal set the release date for The Bourne Legacy at August 3, 2012.

On October 11, 2010, it was reported that the Bourne character will not be in The Bourne Legacy. The film will not take place in a new canon; it will not be a reboot or prequel in any way, but more likely a "sidequel" or full spin-off in the same fictional universe with a new character in the mold of Bourne dealing with the ramifications of the Treadstone conspiracy. Also, Gilroy has stated that he is not ruling out a future return by Damon or Greengrass.

On February 24, 2011, a list of actors met with Gilroy for a role in the film, possibly filling Damon's shoes. The list included Jake Gyllenhall, Tobey Maguire, Josh Hartnett, Garret Hedlund, Michael Fassbender, Alex Pettyfer, Paul Dano, Taylor Kitsch, Kellen Lutz, Benjamin Walker, Oscar Isaac, Luke Evans, Michael Pitt, Chris Evans, Doninic Cooper,  and Joel Edgerton, On March 24, the studio had screen tested actors Edgerton, Cooper, Hedlund and Evans for the role. On April 2, 2011, Latino Review reported that Jeremy Renner is expected to headline the new film. Renner will allegedly be playing a new character. Rachel Weisz is in talks, and may be Renner's character gal.