Matt Damon’s dedication to the action movie franchise centered around Jason Bourne was truly remarkable. His commitment to the role of the amnesiac assassin, tirelessly unraveling the mysteries of his past, kept audiences on the edge of their seats. Damon’s passion for the franchise was so strong that he even interrupted his work on another major drama film starring bigshots like Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, and George Clooney to shoot a new ending for the second Bourne movie, The Bourne Ultimatum.
It’s clear that Damon’s portrayal of Bourne is the heart and soul of these thrilling movies, consistently delivering pulse-pounding excitement to fans worldwide.
Following the triumph of The Bourne Identity, director Paul Greengrass assumed control of the 2000s film series for The Bourne Supremacy in 2004. During Greengrass’s meticulous crafting of the new movie, Matt Damon remained dedicated to his craft, engaging among a stellar cast in the thrilling heist film Ocean’s Twelve.
Matt Damon Had To Shoot A New Ending For The Bourne Supremacy
According to a report in The Guardian, Matt Damon’s commitment to the Bourne franchise led to an intriguing turn of events. The article states,
“Two weeks before its release, [Greengrass] got together with its star, Matt Damon, came up with a new ending and phoned the producers saying the new idea was way better. And it would cost $200,000 and involve pulling Damon from the set of Ocean’s 12 for a re-shoot. Reluctantly, the producers agreed – the movie tested 10 points higher with the new ending and made $176m at the box office. Now that’s power.”
With incoming director Paul Greengrass taking the helm for The Bourne Supremacy in 2004, Damon found himself amidst the glittering ensemble cast of the heist film Ocean’s Twelve. The Guardian report also mentions that Damon was “yanked from the likes of Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Julia Roberts” to return to the Bourne franchise when the new ending was devised.
The creative collaboration between Greengrass and Damon proved to be a stroke of genius. Greengrass completed the Bourne trilogy with The Bourne Ultimatum and subsequently returned for Jason Bourne in 2016.
The new ending, as mentioned in The Guardian article, played a pivotal role in the franchise’s success, stating, “The movie tested 10 points higher with the new ending and made $176m at the box office. Now that’s power.” It’s evident that the decision to reshoot and include the fresh conclusion worked out brilliantly, solidifying its place in the annals of cinematic history.
The Bourne Supremacy Became A Box-Office Superhit Earning $311 Million Worldwide
With a budget of $85 million, Jason Bourne Ultimatum, the second movie of the James Bond killer, $1.6 billion Bourne Franchise, scored a staggering $311 million at the box office leaving the producers satisfied after a last-minute decision to reshoot the ending. The reshoot alone cost $200 thousand but would turn out to be for the best.
The Bourne Ultimatum with $444 million and Jason Bourne with $416 million are the only movies to earn more than Jason Bourne Ultimatum.
Source: The Digital Fix
