While the box office and critical reception of Neill Blomkamp‘s “Elysium” wasn’t stellar overall, you would think Matt Damon was doing some kind of course correction, so safe were his speculated choice of projects next. First, Ben Affleck‘s surprise casting news as Batman naturally resulted in calls for Damon as Robin, and then that idea moved alongside the possibility of Paul Greengrass and his “Bourne” franchise star reuniting for another sequel; Universal has so far denied the latter claim, and while Damon laughed recently at the notion of him as Robin, he did have some word of encouragement for his friend and former co-star.
While in India to check on the efforts of his co-founded organization Water.org, Damon also spoke to The Times Of India about the massive responsibility that Affleck will now hold in “Batman Vs. Superman,” and the enraged initial reaction on the internet. “I think [the film] will be great,” he said. “I know there are a lot of people grousing on the internet. I just think it’s kind of funny. You know, he’s not playing King Lear. It’s Batman! Certainly within his skill set.”
Damon pointed to “Argo” and “The Town” as Affleck-involved examples that were “way more nuanced and interesting” than Batman, and described the Caped Crusader as one who “sits there with his cowl over his head and whispers in a kinda gruff voice at people. Bruce Wayne is the more challenging part of the role, and Ben will be great at that… But it’s safe to say I won’t be Robin.”
One role that he didn’t directly deny during the interview was Jason Bourne, a role in a franchise that he previously thought would be “a real struggle to extend.” But now with talk of attempting another sequel after 2012’s “The Bourne Legacy” with Jeremy Renner, Damon attempted to keep things amiable by saying he “didn’t mind at all” that they were trying to revitalize the franchise.
He added, “It didn’t have anything to do with the movie that I made. It makes sense for a studio to keep those franchises as alive as they can, it makes business sense for them. I don’t begrudge anybody for that. I am a huge fan of Jeremy. I don’t equate my Bourne movie with his. He didn’t play the part of Jason Bourne. It’s a totally different thing.”
It seems it will take a brief spell before Damon announces the next thing for him, but meanwhile you can definitely look forward to his other pal George Clooney‘s directorial effort “Monuments Men,” which opens December 18th. [Coming Soon]