Production is gearing up Bourne 5, and now Paul Greengrass’ upcoming sequel has its villain. According to Variety, Vincent Cassel will play the film’s heavy, joining the ranks of Clive Owen, Karl Urban, and Edgar Ramirez when it comes to playing baddies who have gone up against the super-spy. Variety doesn’t have any details on the character other than he’s an assassin, which is pretty much your standard Bourne antagonist. I’ll be very interested to see what Cassel brings to the role and how much room he’ll have to maneuver.
What’s most interesting about his casting is that they’re going with someone who’s older than Damon, who’s 44 (Cassel is 48). Presumably, there will be fisticuffs between the two, but I’m curious if this will be more of a cat-and-mouse game, or if Greengrass will lean more heavily on action that doesn’t require peak physical condition such as car chases and gun fights. I’m sure both actors can do what’s asked of them, but I also remember at the press conference for Bourne Ultimatum back in 2007 Damon was joking about trying to keep up with Joey Ansah during their fight scene.
However the action shakes out, what makes this sequel, as well as Greengrass’ other two Bourne movies, is the subtext, and I’m eager to see how the director and star Matt Damon take on a “post-Snowden” world.
Bourne 5 also stars Alicia Vikander, Tommy Lee Jones, and Julia Stiles. The film opens July 29, 2016.
