Matt Damon’s Major Box Office Hit: The ‘Embarrassing’ Initial Draft Script

Published:

From Rising Screenwriter to Star Wars Creator

Tony Gilroy, now known for creating the Star Wars TV series “Andor,” made his mark in the 1990s as a promising screenwriter. His early works include screenplays for “The Devil’s Advocate” and “Armageddon.” As the new millennium began, he penned all three “Bourne” screenplays, with “Identity” co-credited to William Blake Herron and “Supremacy” credited solely to Gilroy.

sajdhasd

One-Draft Deal for the Third Bourne Movie

The success of the first two “Bourne” films led to a unique deal for Gilroy for the third installment. His contract stipulated that he would only write one draft, without any rewrites or notes, with a significant payment in return. However, this deal allegedly resulted in less than stellar work. At this time, Gilroy was also making his directorial debut with “Michael Clayton,” which may have distracted him from his writing duties on the third “Bourne” film.

Scramble to Fix the Bourne Ultimatum Script

As a result, the “Bourne Ultimatum” team found themselves rushing to correct the script in time for the August 2007 release. Matt Damon, in an interview with GQ, placed the blame on the studio for the situation. He detailed in a separate interview with Collider how Paul Greengrass, Scott Z. Burns, and George Nolfi worked tirelessly to refine the script:

“We were fortunate to have George Nolfi with us on set every day. He was always a step ahead of us, working on the following day’s pages while we worked on the current day’s script, making adjustments based on the actual location. While this may not be the most efficient way to make a film and wouldn’t be taught in film school, it worked for Paul.”

The Aftermath and Financial Success of Bourne Ultimatum

Despite the turmoil, “The Bourne Ultimatum” was a financial success, grossing $444 million and quadrupling its $110 million budget. The writing credits for the film are shared between Gilroy, Burns, and Nolfi. Gilroy attempted to secure sole credit, but the Writers Guild of America (WGA) reviewed the situation and denied his request.

The Bourne Legacy and Public Controversies

Adding insult to injury, Damon’s criticisms of Gilroy surfaced while Gilroy was directing “The Bourne Legacy,” a film he co-wrote with his brother Dan. The film starred Jeremy Renner as Aaron Cross, another ex-CIA assassin from a program similar to Bourne’s. The film attempted to establish Renner/Cross as the new lead, much like Renner’s supposed takeover of “Mission: Impossible” from Tom Cruise, but it didn’t succeed.

Damon later apologized through the original GQ interviewer for his public criticism of Gilroy. Gilroy, in response, expressed his confusion and shock over Damon’s comments in a 2012 interview with Empire magazine, stating, “I don’t understand that at all. I don’t know where it came from. I think Matt is one of the greatest actors of his generation.”

The 2016 Sequel and Gilroy’s Absence

Despite their apparent reconciliation, Gilroy did not return for the 2016 sequel “Jason Bourne,” which was penned by Greengrass and Christopher Rouse, Greengrass’ trusted editor. The film received colder reviews than the original trilogy, suggesting that Gilroy’s absence was felt and that he might have been the secret ingredient to the success of the original films.

FAQs

Who wrote the Bourne series?

Tony Gilroy wrote all three “Bourne” screenplays. However, the “Bourne Ultimatum” writing credits were shared between Gilroy, Scott Z. Burns, and George Nolfi.

Who directed the Bourne Legacy?

“The Bourne Legacy” was directed by Tony Gilroy, who also co-wrote the film with his brother Dan.

Who wrote the 2016 sequel, “Jason Bourne”?

“Jason Bourne,” the 2016 sequel, was written by Paul Greengrass and Christopher Rouse.


Credit: www.slashfilm.com

Related articles

You May Also Like