Matt Damon Would Consider Playing Jason Bourne Again, But Should He Let That Ship Sail?

Last we heard, the "Bourne" franchise was headed in a new direction without frequent director Paul Greengrass. Leading man Matt Damon has long testified that he would reprise his role as super spy Jason Bourne, and he's echoed those comments in a new interview -- but he insists he'll only return if Greengrass comes back as well.

"Absolutely yes," Damon told Las Vegas Weekly (via The Playlist) when asked if he'd participate in another "Bourne" movie. "I love the character. I love the stories. But only if Paul Greengrass says he will direct again. So far, though, he's decided not to. I'd definitely say yes if he went for it. I know he would have a great story, and it would protect the legacy of what we created."

This isn't the first time that Damon has kept the door open on the "Bourne" franchise, and while I'm all for another outing and I'm a big fan of the actor's work on the character, I have to wonder -- is it time for Damon to let Bourne go?

It's not the most popular notion in the world, I know. A major reason that the "Bourne" series has been so successful is because of Damon's compelling work as the memory-impaired super spy. That said, there is a lot of potential within the "Bourne" franchise -- different countries to explore, different threats to combat, different bad guys to face -- but like the Bond films, wouldn't it be nice to see another actor carry the Bourne mantle?

Keeping "Bourne" tied too closely to Damon for too long damages its potential to continue on after the actor is really done with the character. Besides, his arc was pretty nicely wrapped by the time the credits rolled on "The Bourne Ultimatum." In utilizing a new actor, audiences can expect the same caliber of action and frenetic pace the "Bourne" franchise is known for, but with an all-new agent representing an all-new adventure.

That's not to say that Damon should leave the franchise altogether. In fact, I would love to see both Damon and Greengrass stay on in producer roles, helping to steer the good ship "Bourne" in a bold, new direction. I'm just not sure that carrying on with Damon on the screen is the right move for this franchise's future.

Then again, it could be cool to see Damon sticking all the way through with Bourne until he's old and grey. Can you imagine a sixty-plus Damon running around as Old Man Bourne in twenty some-odd years? If he's willing to sign a multi-picture deal of epic proportions, I would absolutely be down with Damon playing Bourne for several decades to come. Otherwise, it might be best to hand the reins over to someone new.

But what do you think? Would you rather see Damon return as Bourne, or are you interested in seeing another actor's take? As always, tell us what you'd like to see in the comments section and on Twitter!

Tags jason bourne, matt damon