Matt Damon to return to Jason Bourne franchise

LOS ANGELES — Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass are ready to be born again at Universal Pictures.

Sources tell Variety the the studio is in the early stages of bringing back Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass for an untitled Jason Bourne feature, marking the return of one of Hollywood’s biggest action franchises.

Over the years Greengrass and Damon and have stood their ground about not returning to the CIA property, based on the Robert Ludlum novels, after working together on The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum.

But sources now say both Greengrass and Damon are changing their tune and are in early talks to return to the franchise.

Watch: Behind the scenes of The Bourne Ultimatum.

Video: YouTube/RedTrain Works

Universal is already developing an untitled film set in the Bourne world with Justin Lin directing and Jeremy Renner returning to play Aaron Cross. That film was slotted to bow on July 16, 2016 and its unknown if that film will stay there or if the new Bourne film will take it place.

Damon, who is repped by WME, is about to start filming The Martian for Fox and Greengrass last directed Captain Phillips. He is repped by CAA.

Universal had no comment on this story. VARIETY.COM/REUTERS