Looks like it’s a game of musical chairs for rising Danish star Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina) as she heads from one expert assassin to another. After word in May that the actress was in contention for lead roles in both 20th Century Fox’s Assassin’s Creed and Universal’s Bourne 5, Deadline confirms that Vikander will star opposite Matt Damon in the fifth installment of the Jason Bourne saga. She will not, however, be joining Michael Fassbender in Fox’s video game adaptation.
Creed will lens in August, so it will now have to find another leading lady quickly, but that was probably foreseen as Frank Marshall (Jurassic World) is a producer on both projects.
Bourne 5 will feature the return of Academy Award-winning actor Matt Damon to the title role with The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum helmer Paul Greengrass back in the director’s chair. Julia Stiles is also set to reprise her role as CIA Agent Nicky Parsons. Little is known about the plot of the new film, although it has been confirmed that it will not feature a crossover between Damon’s Bourne and Jeremy Renner’s Aaron Cross from The Bourne Legacy.
Franchise steward Marshall will again produce the new film alongside Jeffrey Weiner for Captivate Entertainment. Greengrass, Damon and Greg Goodman also produce. Production should begin shortly on Bourne 5 as the film is slated to hit the big screen July 29, 2016.
Vikander has a multitude of projects currently awaiting release, including Warner Bros.’ The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Tom Hooper’s The Danish Girl, Justin Chadwick’s Tulip Fever, John Wells’ Adam Jones opposite Bradley Cooper, and Derek Cianfrance’s The Light Between Oceans opposite Fassbender.
