- Primary Subject: Zendaya and the Bourne franchise casting rumors
- Key Update: Rumors are swirling that Zendaya is in talks to replace Matt Damon as the new lead for an upcoming Bourne franchise reboot.
- Status: Rumor
- Last Verified: June 25, 2026
- Quick Answer: While industry insiders report Zendaya discussed leading a female-centric Bourne reboot, Universal Pictures has vehemently denied the rumor, meaning no official recast has occurred.
There are rumors that Zendaya is in talks to take over as the new lead of the Bourne franchise from Matt Damon. Is there truth to any of it?
In the last several years, there have been attempts to revive the Bourne franchise, as no new movie installment has been released since 2016. Fans have been wondering whether the franchise will be revived again, whether it's Damon returning to the iconic role or a new lead for a potential reboot.
Now, it looks like the studio is eyeing a surprising A-list star to potentially take over.
Is Zendaya Taking Over the Bourne Franchise from Matt Damon?
According to veteran journalist/scooper Jeff Sneider, Zendaya is being eyed as the new lead of the Bourne franchise and will take over from Matt Damon.
He reported that the A-list actress has been in discussions with Universal Pictures about potentially taking over the franchise and becoming the new lead in a reboot.
However, he also noted that a spokesperson from Universal had denied the rumor when he reached out to them for comments about his scoop. It should also be noted that they are starring together in The Odyssey.
So far, Zendaya's representative has not shared any comments about the rumor of her potential taking over of the action franchise.
For now, we can safely say that there is no truth to any rumor that Zendaya will lead the new iteration of the Bourne franchise, since nothing official has been announced yet by the studio.
With that said, this is also a sign that the studio is looking for a fresher face to lead the Bourne franchise and replace Damon, who is now 55 years old and likely not interested in reprising his iconic role.
Considering that Zendaya is one of the biggest young stars today, it's not surprising that the studio is eyeing her, plus it's an opportunity for them to rebrand the franchise with a new take and a female lead approach, differing from Damon's Jason Bourne era.
For now, let's wait for news and updates regarding the future of the Bourne franchise in the coming months.
The History of the Bourne Franchise
The five-film Bourne franchise is a critical and commercial powerhouse, grossing over $1.6 billion and fundamentally reshaping modern action cinema. The series became famous for establishing a gritty, post-9/11 tone, pioneering the widespread use of frenetic editing and shaky-cam cinematography that heavily influenced Hollywood action movies throughout the late 2000s and 2010s.
While Doug Liman launched the franchise by directing The Bourne Identity, Paul Greengrass defined its signature aesthetic by helming The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, and Jason Bourne. Tony Gilroy served as the franchise's narrative backbone, writing or co-writing every entry except for the fifth film.
At the heart of the overarching plot is Jason Bourne, a CIA assassin suffering from dissociative amnesia, portrayed by Matt Damon. He starred as the title character in four of the five installments.
The sole exception is the fourth film, The Bourne Legacy, which Gilroy also directed. When Damon chose not to return for this chapter, the narrative shifted to a new protagonist: Aaron Cross, a Department of Defense operative played by Jeremy Renner. In Legacy, Cross is forced to run for his life due to the systemic fallout of Bourne's exposure of the black-ops programs in Ultimatum.
Although Damon does not physically appear in this specific film, his character's presence is felt throughout through name drops and photographs, setting the stage for Damon's eventual return in the fifth movie.
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