The long search is over. Universal has chosen Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker, The Town) to fill Matt Damon’s shoes in the Bourne franchise. Director/writer Tony Gilroy had championed Animal Kingdom star Joel Edgerton for the role and reports earlier today suggested that James McAvoy and Shia LaBeouf were the studio’s two leading choices for the role.
Renner beat out a long list of names that have been thrown into consideration over the past couple months. Everybody from Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Fassbender to Alex Pettyfer and Tobey Maguire had been rumored for the role. 
Deadline says that Renner will play, "an operative from a covert government program that is even more dangerous than the Treadstone brainwashing program that hatched Bourne.”
Renner, who is also the heir-apparent to the Tom Cruise Mission: Impossible movie franchise, brings a nice blend of toughness with some strong acting credentials, including a pair of Oscar nominations.
So what do you think Bourne fans? Are you liking the studios choice? Sound off below and vote in our Bourne Poll.
