With discussions surrounding a Jason Bourne 6, Matt Damon’s action franchise must learn from the mistakes of The Bourne Legacy by embracing current cinematic trends.
Since 2023, the Bourne franchise has been relatively quiet, with a new film in development under Edward Burger that ultimately did not materialize. In March 2025, Universal Pictures lost the rights to the Bourne franchise. Subsequently, in August 2025, NBCUniversal acquired all rights to the Jason Bourne and Treadstone book series, opening the door for new installments.
While promoting The Odyssey, Damon provided an encouraging update regarding Bourne for the first time in years. “We’re always looking to try to get another one of those because we loved it, everyone who worked on them,” Damon stated. “So there’s always some attempt going on to write, to come up with a new story. So if you have anything, let us know.”
Damon is evidently keen on finding a way to produce Jason Bourne 6. If this film comes to fruition, the Bourne franchise should draw inspiration from the Creed series for its next installment.
Why the Creed formula is a great fit for Jason Bourne 6
After six films, the Rocky franchise required a creative overhaul. Enter Ryan Coogler, who crafted a new narrative centered around Apollo Creed’s son, Adonis Creed, portrayed by Michael B. Jordan. Rather than removing Sylvester Stallone from the film, Coogler wisely transitioned Rocky into a supporting role as Adonis’s mentor. Creed has since become one of the most cherished films in the franchise, earning Stallone a supporting actor Oscar nomination.
After five films, Bourne certainly requires a fresh storyline. It also needs to appeal to a younger audience. This does not imply that Damon should exit the franchise; at 55 years old, he remains an A-list star. Damon should continue as one of the leads in Jason Bourne 6. However, this installment could benefit from pairing him with a younger star to create more of a team-up dynamic rather than a solo journey.
If the next Bourne film aims to keep Damon as the lead, Top Gun: Maverick presents another successful formula that producers could emulate. Tom Cruise remains the primary draw for that film while being paired with emerging talent to attract a new generation of fans.
Regardless of the chosen formula, it is essential for Damon to be involved in the next film. The outcome was less favorable when Damon’s Jason Bourne was absent; in 2012, he did not appear in The Bourne Legacy, which instead featured Jeremy Renner as Aaron Cross. That film grossed $276 million against a $125 million budget and stands as the second-lowest-grossing entry in the franchise after The Bourne Identity. Notably, The Bourne Identity was the inaugural film in the series and earned $214 million worldwide on a $60 million budget. The Bourne Legacy also faced mixed reviews.
A viable path exists for Jason Bourne 6; however, it must include Damon in some capacity.
