Zendaya May Be the Next Spy to Forget Everything in a ‘Bourne’ Reboot
Few spy franchises have left as deep a mark on modern action cinema as the ‘Bourne’ series. When Doug Liman’s ‘The Bourne Identity’ hit screens in 2002, it fundamentally changed the way spy thrillers were made, stripping away the gadgets and glamour of the genre to deliver something gritty, lean, and punishing. Through five films, the franchise has racked up $1.64 billion at the global box office, cementing its place as one of Universal’s most valuable properties.
Universal reacquired all rights to the Jason Bourne franchise in perpetuity following a competitive bidding war, signaling the studio’s firm intent to push the series forward. ‘Conclave’ director Edward Berger was brought on to develop a new film, and insiders confirmed a script from Joe Barton, creator of the Netflix spy drama ‘Black Doves’, was already in hand, though the project has not yet been greenlit. Whether Matt Damon would return as the amnesiac assassin remained an open question, and it appears Universal may have been quietly exploring a very different answer.
According to a report from entertainment insider Jeff Sneider via his newsletter The InSneider, multiple sources claimed that Zendaya had discussions with Universal about taking over the franchise from Damon and acting as the new lead of the Bourne series, though Sneider noted it was a rumor and a Universal spokesperson denied any truth to the report. If the rumor holds, Zendaya’s version of Bourne would be a complete reboot, with the actress playing a female spy suffering from amnesia, echoing the core premise of Damon’s original character, who woke up with no memory of his past while being hunted by dangerous enemies.
Sneider framed the potential move as Zendaya being ready to stop playing a supporting role in giant studio blockbusters, a characterization that makes sense given her current trajectory. Between ‘The Odyssey’ and ‘Shrek 5,’ both of which are Universal releases, the studio could be eager to keep Zendaya in the family. Her existing relationship with Universal adds a layer of credibility to the whispers, even if the studio itself is pushing back.
The timing of the rumor is also worth noting. Earlier this year, Zendaya told Fandango that after her packed slate of projects, she plans to disappear for a while, saying she would have to “go into hiding.” She doesn’t currently have anything confirmed on her shooting schedule for 2027 or 2028, aside from a Barry Jenkins-directed Ronnie Spector biopic whose status remains unclear. That opening on her calendar could very well be where a ‘Bourne’ reboot fits, if the pieces fall into place.
Universal’s only previous attempt at a ‘Bourne’ film without Damon was 2012’s ‘The Bourne Legacy,’ which featured Jeremy Renner as a new character. It debuted to mixed reviews and the second-lowest box office of the series, prompting Damon’s eventual return. Edward Berger has not hidden his enthusiasm for the material, though he told Empire he would only take it on if the script gave both him and Damon something genuinely new to explore, and acknowledged the weight of the franchise’s legacy. Whether that conversation still involves Damon at all now appears to be very much up in the air.
For a franchise that built its identity around one man’s brutal, propulsive search for himself, reimagining that journey through a new lead is a significant gamble. But with Zendaya at the center of virtually every major conversation in Hollywood right now, it’s also the kind of swing that could land. Would you want to see Zendaya take on the role of a female amnesiac spy in a rebooted ‘Bourne,’ or does this franchise’s future only make sense with Damon in the driver’s seat?
