Excellent Casting Choice
Bernal could be bad guy for new 'Bourne'
"The Bourne Ultimatum," the third installment of Universal Pictures' successful action series, began shooting this week in Tangier, but it is still without a worthy nemesis for its amnesiac spy hero, Jason Bourne. With the clock ticking, an offer has gone out to Gael Garcia Bernal to take on the role, though negotiations have not yet begun. Matt Damon is back as Bourne, and Joan Allen and Julia Stiles are back as well. David Strathairn also has joined the cast. Paul Greengrass is returning as director.
The story centers on assassin Bourne uncovering mysteries of his past, which puts him in the cross-hairs of a superkiller. Tony Gilroy, Tom Stoppard and Paul Attanasio worked on the script. In addition to Tangier, shooting locations include Madrid, Paris, New York, London and Riga, the capital of Latvia. "Ultimatum" is being produced by Frank Marshall, Patrick Crowley and Paul Sandberg. While it is unusual for a major production to begin filming without having cast a central role, it is not without precedent.
Last year, the James Bond movie "Casino Royale" kicked off its production without either an opponent for 007 or a leading lady. That movie is now shaping up to be one of this fall's most anticipated movies. International star Bernal, repped by Endeavor, has starred in "Amores Perros," "Y Tu Mama Tambien" and "The Motorcycle Diaries." This fall he will appear in Michel Gondry's "The Science of Sleep" and "Babel."
