Joel Edgerton (Animal Kingdom) will next be seen opposite Tom Hardy (Inception, The Dark Knight Rises) in Lionsgate’s Warrior where the two will stand toe-to-toe as a pair of MMA fighting siblings. Edgerton will also be seen in Universal’s remake of The Thing later this year as he’s slowly becoming more of a domestic presence. Problem is… his star may not be bright enough.
Today Vulture posted an article citing sources that say Edgerton is writer/director Tony Gilroy’s current choice to take over the lead role in the fourth film in the Jason Bourne franchise, The Bourne Legacy.
The role is that of Martin who, like Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne, was part of a Treadstone-like program. Universal brass, however, aren’t convinced Edgerton has the name-recognition to carry the franchise. There is also a high probability of him landing the second lead role in the U’s Snow White and the Huntsman, a role previously slotted for his Warrior co-star, followed by Viggo Mortensen who dropped out, then Hugh Jackman turned it down leaving the studio with the current vacancy in the film that currently stars Charlize Theron and Kristen Stewart.
As for the Bourne feature, it seems Gilroy is having a hell of a time filling this role as his previous first choice, Oscar Isaac (Robin Hood, Sucker Punch), was also vetoed by the studio at a time when it was reported Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) had been offered the part. Shortly after that news came out previous candidates insisted they weren’t out of the race yet as Edgerton along with Luke Evans (Clash of the Titans), Dominic Cooper (An Education) and Garrett Hedlund (TRON: Legacy) still had a shot. Obviously that has now proven true.
Word is the film is coming together nicely and the goal for both Universal and the Robert Ludlum estate is to get going by July so a decision needs to happen soon as a few other potential names have entered the fray. Vulture says you can add James McAvoy (Wanted) and Shia LaBeouf (Transformers: Dark of the Moon) to the studio’s wishlist for the Bourne role. Personally, neither of those names intrigue me much, though I would gladly take McAvoy over LaBeouf as he presents a more calm and cool character whereas I feel the always jittery LaBeouf just wouldn’t be a good fit based on the mood I got from the original trilogy of films.
The Bourne Legacy is currently slated for an August 3, 2012 release and it sounds like we may have a star very soon.
