A new Bourne movie is being developed, and it may connect to the Treadstone TV show. After debuting in 2002, the adaptation of the Robert Ludlum novel The Bourne Identity proved to be a huge international hit and turned Matt Damon into an action star.

In the years that followed, Bourne became a legitimate name in the spy/thriller genre, focusing on exotic locales, lightning-quick action sequences and an engaging mystery that weighed heavily on the mind of the film’s lead character, Jason Bourne (Damon). After three films, the last of which arrived in 2007, Damon moved on to other projects and the effect that the Bourne franchise had on similar longstanding spy/thriller franchises (like James Bond and Mission: Impossible) was a substantial one. And while Damon may have had enough of Bourne at that time, fans hadn’t. The demand for more Bourne continued until it was revealed in 2012 that a new Bourne film starring Jeremy Renner, The Bourne Legacy - this time, minus the eponymous character - was on its way. The film fared moderately well, so in 2016 Damon returned again, starring in the aptly named Jason Bourne, which proved to be a sizeable hit.

Related: All Jason Bourne Movies, Ranked Worst to Best

Since 2016, there hasn’t been much talk of a new Bourne film, though Treadstone, a new prequel TV series based on Operation: Treadstone in the years prior to Jason Bourne’s involvement, is set to premiere on the USA Network this month. While this is great news for Bourne fans, even better news has arrived courtesy of Cinemablend. Not only is a new Bourne film currently being developed, but it will also tie into the Treadstone TV series, in an effort at building a shared Bourne universe. Said Ben Smith, producer of past Bourne films as well as the new TV series:

I mean we are definitely working on another film. What we're doing within that? Will there be connected tissue in terms of are we all existing within the same world and universe? Absolutely. The details of that are still under wraps.

The initial details may be scant at this point, but there is indeed plenty to consider. As of this writing, there is no word regarding whether or not Damon will be returning for a new film. If the past five films in the franchise have proven anything, it’s that the series functions at its best whenever Damon is involved. With Smith having said that the events which take place in Treadstone will be “concurrent” to the events of the new film, it sounds as though this new Bourne film could be a prequel. If that is the case, then it is hard to imagine how Damon can play a much younger version of himself at this point in his career. That being said, however, the de-aging technique used in upcoming films like The Irishman and Gemini Man is always an option.

The idea of a Bourne universe makes perfect sense given the success of the films and the ongoing demand for more. The main difference with Bourne over other large-scale franchises like James Bond or Mission: Impossible is that a suitable replacement for Damon has yet to be found. If Damon isn’t going to be involved with future films, then a comparable replacement is needed. So far that hasn’t been an easy task and fans don’t seem ready to let go of Damon. However, with the Treadstone TV series on its way, a new era of the Bourne franchise could be built, leading to new characters and a renewal of all the qualities that made the series so popular to begin with.

NEXT: Treadstone: What to Expect From the Bourne Prequel TV Series

Source: Cinemablend