Here's our take on the rumoured New Bournes...

Universal Pictures is currently reviewing candidates for the new lead in the forthcoming Bourne Legacy. This new film goes outside of the original Robert Ludlum books of the rogue CIA assassin and moves attention away from Jason Bourne to a new protagonist - although, predictably, he will have a similar background to the original operative.

Writer and director Tony Gilroy, who penned all three scripts for the highly successful franchise, has been in Hollywood engaged in this search. Variety reports that the director seems to have an idea of the kind of actor he is looking for, and names Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire, Garrett Hedlund, Taylor Kitsch and Kellan Lutz to have been mentioned; however, Universal have yet to make any official comment. Gilroy may decide to choose a lesser known star, and want to screen test his list of potentials.

While there may be a role for Matt Damon, nothing has been announced so far. Damon starred in The Bourne Identity in 2002, reprising the role in The Bourne Supremacy in 2004 and The Bourne Ultimatum in 2007, and grossing around $1 billion in box office takings worldwide.

Here’s my review of those chaps on the rumoured short list, and their chances. It’s unscientific and pure speculation. If The Bourne Legacy follows on from the leftovers of the original CIA black ops Treadstone project, a younger character may be better. If so, it may favour the more junior of this list.

Jake Gyllenhaal
Age: 31
Known for: Donnie Darko, Jarhead, Brokeback Mountain, Zodiac,  Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
Currently filming: Nailed (post-production)
Number of films ‘in the can’ this year: one: Source Code
Chances of getting the role: Good: He can do physical, Prince of Persia for example, and do physiological - Donnie Darko. His time on Jarhead would give him a good grounding in the military mind.

Tobey Maguire
Age: 36
Movies known for: Spiderman 1, 2 & 3, Pleasantville, The Cider House Rules
Currently filming: The Great Gatsby another movie stab at F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel  (the 1974 version starred Mia Farrow and Robert Redford)
Number of films ‘in the can’ this year: one
Chances of getting the role: Fair: Even without the ‘spidey’ senses he has a look in his eyes that worries me. That’s good.

Garrett Hedlund
Movies known for: Tron: Legacy, Four Brothers, Troy
Age: 27
Currently filming: On the Road, the film adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s legendary Beatnik novel.
Chances of getting the role: Good: He’s not afraid to get bruised but can he come across as being a young man with a CIA/ military past convincingly?

Taylor Kitsch
Age: 30
Movies known for: X-Men Origins, Snakes on a Plane, The Covenant
Currently filming: two this year: Battleship and the lead in John Carter of Mars
Number of films ‘in the can’ this year: two
Chances of getting the role: Very good: has a mean look and being John Carter and in Battleship gives him some sci-fi quasi-military movie cred.

Kellan Lutz
Age: 26
Movies known for: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse
Currently filming: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Parts 1 & 2, Guardians of Luna
Number of films ‘in the can’ this year: three - Immortals, A Warrior’s Heart, The Killing Game.
Chances of getting the role: Outside: Too 'teen angst' and teeth for my liking. Grow up more. Gladiatorial combat skills learned on The Killing Game may come in handy if the part calls for a good young American boy.

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