film. Matt Damon was also attached to the project from the start, and Julia Stiles as well as Joan Allen had been asked to join the project, with Paul Greengrass slated to return as director. However, in November 2009 Greengrass said he wasn't interested in directing it, and soon afterwards Matt Damon announced that he would not make the film without Greengrass. On June 9, 2010, it was announced that Tony Gilroy would be writing and directing a movie entitled The Bourne Legacy that would have a 2012 release date. The new film would have nothing but the title in common with Van Lustbader's novel, and would be a side-story with a new character "in the mold of Bourne", dealing with the ramifications of the events in the third film. Gilroy also stated that he didn't rule out a future return by Damon or Greengrass. The film was released in theaters on August 10, 2012. References 2004 American novels Techno-thriller novels Novels by Eric Van Lustbader Bourne (novel series) American spy novels American thriller novels American novels adapted into films