Paul Greengrass not directing 'Bourne 4'

It’s official: Paul Greengrass is not directing the fourth “Bourne” movie.

The director issued a statement via Universal saying the decision is “simply about feeling the call for a different challenge.”

Internet reports (Playlist, a site that tracks film scores, actually broke the story) surfaced yesterday that the director was moving on.

Playlist intimated that part of the problem was due to tension created when Greengrass was not consulted on Universal’s decision to go with a parallel script, while another problem was that Greengrass and “Bourne” star Matt Damon’s latest collaboration, “Green Zone,” was going over budget.

Greengrass’ statement, made in conjunction with Universal, nicely wallpapers the creative differences:

“You won't find a more devoted supporter of the Bourne franchise than me. I will always be grateful to have been the caretaker to Jason Bourne over the course of 'The Bourne Supremacy' and 'The Bourne Ultimatum.' I'm very proud of those films and feel they express everything I most passionately believe about the possibility of making quality movies in the mainstream. My decision to not return a third time as director is simply about feeling the call for a different challenge. There's been no disagreement with Universal Pictures. The opportunity to work with the Bourne family again is a difficult thing to pass up, but we have discussed this together, and they have been incredibly understanding and supportive. I've been lucky enough to have made four films for Universal, and our relationship continues. Jason Bourne existed before me and will continue, and I hope to remain involved in some capacity as the series moves on.”

Whatever the case, the vacancy leaves Universal, which was hoping to shoot the “Bourne” installment next year, without a major tentpole movie for 2011 and one of its surefire tentpoles adrift, at least temporarily. (Though any new director will have to win the graces of Damon, who is a huge supporter of Greengrass.)

And it becomes another item on the to-do list that new chairman Adam Fogelson and co-chairman Donna Langley have to deal with as they rebuild from a down year.

Comments

[gifts for her]

The Bourne Ultimatum was one of the best films 2007. In fact this is one of the only trilogy's in recent memory that did not disappoint each installment was better then the last. If they want to do a 4th one I am all for it.