So much for Vulture’s report on Joel Edgerton, published earlier today huh? Does Jeremy Renner have the lead role in Tony Gilroy’s “The Bourne Legacy” all sown up? All signs point to yes. Last week it was rumored that Universal wanted the breakout “Hurt Locker” star for the lead, despite all the testing they had been doing of up-and-coming actors, and that much has been confirmed. There seems to be two reports that are saying much of the same, but not quite.
Deadline basically says Renner has the role and while THR essentially agrees, their report appears to be more pragmatic. The studio wants the star, the star wants the role, however, scheduling could be an issue for the very in-demand actor who is currently shooting, Paramount’s “Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters,” then will have to shoot “The Avengers,” and then will have to do press for for Par’s “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.“
The good news for fans who want to see Renner in this role — and we include ourselves in this bunch, though we would love to see the aforementioned Aussie Edgerton nab some meaty supporting role — is that “The Bourne Legacy,” according to Deadline will shoot in September, so “The Avengers,” which appears to have been bumped into the summer, may not conflict (to be honest, we’re unsure when it’s shooting, but the original plan was spring 2011 which has passed and Renner is obviously now shooting an entirely different film; and with folks like longtime ‘Bourne’ producer Frank Marshall tweeting about it, perhaps calendar issues aren’t that big of a deal).
Deadline seems to have quite a bit of deets. However, they note: Renner hasn’t taken the role yet, but he has been formally been offered it apparently. The actor will evidently play, an operative from a covert government program, however it isn’t the Treadstone’s brainwashing program that birthed Jason Bourne, and it’s apparently a group that is “even more dangerous than the Treadstone.”
Maybe Edgerton can at least score the male lead role in “Snow White And The Huntsman,” with Charlize Theron and Kristen Stewart already onboard, maybe Universal’s fairytale tentpole doesn’t need such a huge name and the guy surely has it in the talent department (as anyone who saw his short, but brimming potential in “Animal Kingdom” can attest). He’s a huge star just waiting to break just as Renner was before “The Hurt Locker.” One hopes that egos will not preclude some of these actors who have tested to take supporting roles in “The Bourne Legacy” which is scheduled to land August, 2012 in theaters.