Matt Damon exits Bourne

No Jason Bourne for Bourne

Tony Gilroy has revealed that Matt Damon’s character Jason Bourne won’t appear in The Bourne Legacy.

According to Gilroy, who penned scripts for each of the three Bourne films and will write and direct Legacy:

“This is not a reboot or a recast or a prequel,” he said. “No one’s replacing Matt Damon. There will be a whole new hero, a whole new chapter… this is a stand-alone project.”

Gilroy continued: “Jason Bourne will not be in this film, but he’s very much alive. What happened in the first three films is the trigger for what happens.

“I’m building a legend and an environment and a wider conspiracy…the world we’re making enhances and advances and invites Jason Bourne’s return [down the road].”

The Bourne Legacy is due to arrive in cinemas in 2012.