Paul Greengrass Says He Was Offered A ‘James Bond’ Film After Directing ‘Bourne Supremacy’

Paul Greengrass says he was offered the chance to direct a James Bond film after making The Bourne Supremacy, but declined because he felt loyalty to the Bourne series. He praised Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson, as well as Daniel Craig, and said directing Bond would feel like switching football rivals.

Greengrass described himself as a “Bourne guy” and hopes Jason Bourne returns, though he is unsure whether that will happen. Matt Damon said in June that people involved in the films are trying to develop another story and that he would be open to returning. The five films released between 2002 and 2016 have grossed more than $1.64 billion worldwide; Damon did not appear in the fourth, which starred Jeremy Renner as a new character.