Universal Offers Jeremy Renner Bourne Legacy Lead

It looks like Universal has chosen Jeremy Renner for their lead in Tony Gilroy's Bourne Legacy as reported by Deadline and originally scooped by LatinoReview. While we've been hearing talk of Joel Edgerton and other well known names the studio has gone with Renner. The prequel will focus on the early day of Treadstone and will leave the window open for Matt Damon to return but Bourne will not actually be in the film. I'm sure there will be confirmation soon as I doubt Renner would turn down the film considering it's right up his alley.

It's not surprising as Renner is co-starring alongside Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol with the assumption he'll take over the franchise for Cruise. He's also lined up a few films with Marvel Studios playing Hawkeye in The Avengers, a Hawkeye spin-off and other Marvel films. It doesn't hurt that Jeremy has international appeal and gained two Oscar nominations in the last two years for his great work in the Hurt Locker and The Town. He's currently finishing up Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters before starting Avengers.

Joel Edgerton Wanted For Bourne Legacy & Huntsman

Vulture is reporting that Australian actor Joel Edgerton (Animal Kingdom) is impressing Universal as he's being looked at for two of their films. First writer/director Tony Gilroy wants Joel for The Bourne Legacy yet the studio feels James McAvoy (X-Men First Class, Wanted) or Shia LaBeouf (Transformers 1-3) would be better known internationally. Universal is also considering Joel for the huntsman role in Snow White & The Huntsman as Viggo Mortensen and Hugh Jackman have passed on the project.

Edgerton is currently leading Universal's upcoming The Thing prequel and is an excellent actor that's been taking up solid Aussie roles in the last couple of years. Hopefully he ends up in Bourne Legacy as he seems a perfect person for the role and Huntsman sounds like it's on it's last legs. He's a future action star in the making and if Joel doesn't get Bourne he'll be offered another franchise soon.