UPDATE: With The Odyssey in theaters, and Matt Damon and Zendaya both doing the press rounds for their roles in the film, Damon has been asked a few times about his future in the Bourne universe. Damon maintains that another film is in the works with Edward Berger (Conclave) directing, but Jeff Sneider – who started the rumor train going with his scoop (see below) says the plan now is for Damon and Zendaya to team up in the new film, with him passing the torch to her for future instalments. Here’s his tweet:
It’s worth noting that nobody at Universal has confirmed these rumors, although with The Odyssey killing it at the box office, it’s probably reasonable to assume Universal wants to stay in business with both stars – so could there be more to this than just guess work? I guess we’ll see in the months ahead.
ORIGINAL STORY: Get the barricades out of the hall closet to help keep the internet hounds at bay because a spicy rumor suggests that Zendaya (Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Euphoria, Dune) could replace Matt Damon (The Odyssey) as Jason Bourne for the next installment of the spy thriller franchise. According to Jeff Sneider’s The InSneider newsletter, the industry scooper says multiple sources point toward Zendaya as Damon’s replacement. However, Universal denies any truth to this, so let’s chalk it up as a RUMOUR for the time being.
Before you start wrapping an oil-soaked rag around a chair leg to act as a torch, Hollywood whispers say the Dune and Euphoria star would lead a total reboot of the Bourne franchise, with Zendaya playing “a female amnesiac spy,” much like Damon’s character in the original run of films. Because this is only a rumor, no other information is available.
Where in the world is Zendaya?
What makes this rumor interesting for me is that Zendaya told Hola in March that she’s “going into hiding” after an exceptionally busy 2026. You would need a break, too, if you were starring in Euphoria Season 3, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Dune: Part Three. While filming for all three projects is complete, there are non-stop promotional campaigns to consider. For many lead actors, the work doesn’t stop after the cameras finish rolling. Zendaya’s got premieres, interviews, and who knows what else on her docket for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, then the media blitz for Dune: Part Three. It’s an enormous amount of work, travel, and jumping through flaming hoops for the media. I could never be a big-time actor. I would crumple under the pressure like a paper cup after it’s outlived its usefulness.
Zendaya would make a great Bourne
As for Zendaya taking over the role of Bourne, I could see it. She’s hotter than ever right now, and have you seen her scowl? It’s downright criminal how intimidating it is. I would hate to cross Zendaya any day of the week. She’d kick my ass, then stand over my broken body with a smile. With the right training, I could see her leading a bold new direction for the Bourne franchise, and after dudes stop their whining, we’d have a great time with the project. What do you think of the rumor that Zendaya could be the next Jason Bourne? Let us know in the comments section below.
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