The Bourne franchise follows the story of Jason Bourne, a man who, suffering from psychogenic amnesia, awakes not knowing who he is. On the quest to discover his identity, he realizes he’s being hunted down by the CIA, whom he manages to fight off with ease but is unsure how he learned his skills. It’s eventually revealed that Jason Bourne is a former CIA agent, but can’t remember anything he’s done due to amnesia. The Bourne Identity was the first film of the franchise, adapted from Robert Ludlum’s 1980 novel of the same name. The 2002 film starred Matt Damon at the titular hero, and was met with critical and commercial success, launching an entire franchise that includes five Bourne movies in total.
It’s hard to see anyone but Damon fill this role so well, as he not only trained for months to fulfill the physical needs of the action sequences, but Damon also insisted on doing most of the stunts himself. Damon brought such a presence to the character that the one film without him, The Bourne Legacy, which starred Jeremy Renner, was a considerable flop, especially compared to its predecessors. That said, as with any major role, a number of actors were considered for the role before Damon was signed on. These five actors were almost cast as Jason Bourne.
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5 Sylvester Stallone
United Artists
Sylvester Stallone is the original badass. With a long history of starring in action films dating back to the original First Blood in 1984 to his most recent and final installation in the Rambo franchise in 2019, if there’s anyone who knows their way around a fantastic action film, it’s Stallone. His long track record of starring in phenomenal action films makes it clear why he was considered for the role of Jason Bourne despite being close to the age of 50 at the time of The Bourne Identity’s release. Stallone’s career experienced a decline around 2000 until the release of Rocky VI in 2006, but had he been selected to play the role of Jason Bourne, that decline may have never happened.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
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4 Tom Cruise
Paramount Pictures
Tom Cruise has managed to make a name for himself within the action genre, thanks to his Mission: Impossible franchise and his insistence on performing his own stunts, making him one of the strongest actors in the genre. He was an obvious choice to consider for the dangerous Jason Bourne, as he already had much of the training and experience under his belt to qualify him for the role. However, with Doug Liman insisting that there be a greater focus on character and plot rather than merely action, perhaps Cruise would not have brought enough to the character that is Jason Bourne. Had Cruise taken on the role, we also would not have seen him in Minority Report.
3 Brad Pitt
20th Century Studios
Considering that the first Bourne film was released in 2002, it’s no surprise that Brad Pitt was one of the main contenders to fill the role. Having starred in Snatch and Fight Club prior to The Bourne Identity’s production, Pitt had built himself a good reputation as an actor and became Doug Liman’s first choice as the badass machine that is Jason Bourne. According to The Things, Pitt was the very first actor to be offered the role of Jason Bourne, but was forced to turn it down for his upcoming role in Spy Game alongside Robert Redford. Pitt’s iteration of Jason Bourne may have been completely different from Damon’s, possibly bringing more charisma and charm to the character than Damon did. It’s fun to think of how different the franchise would be had Pitt taken the role.
2 Russell Crowe
20th Century Fox
This Australian star of Gladiator has been offered a number of acting roles over the years that he did not take, and the role of Jason Bourne is one of them. Russell Crowe received international acclaim for his performance as General Maximus in Gladiator, earning him an Academy Award. Not only did this deem him a strong actor, but also a strong presence in any role he takes on, making him an ideal action star. Playing the role of Jason Bourne could have been a great opportunity to build his reputation in the action genre, however, had he been given the role, we would have missed out on his outstanding performance in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.
1 Arnold Schwarzenegger
Carolco Pictures
Yet another veteran action actor to add to those considered is Arnold Schwarzenegger. Known for his performances in films like Predator and the Terminator franchise, Schwarzenegger has had his fair share of experience within the action genre. While Schwarzenegger was another contender to play the role of Jason Bourne, his focus at the time of production was no longer solely on acting or body-building, but rather on politics. He announced his candidacy for Governor of California in 2003 and won the election, holding office as Governor from 2003 to 2011, effectively retiring from acting before making a comeback after the end of his political run. It’s tough to imagine someone like Schwarzenegger for the role of Bourne, leading us to believe that the decision to not choose him was for the best.
