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Universal Pictures is said to be in negotiations with Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon for a fourth Bourne Adventure.  Sure, it’s great news.  Everyone loves the Bourne films.  Good action, good writing, Damon’s devil may care attitude, Greengrass’ shaky camera work a la NYPD Blue circa 1993…what’s not to love?

Now, let’s picture a much different world.  A world where The Bourne Identity was merely a well crafted, one-off action film. It almost happened.  Summer 2002:  There was a much bigger action franchise being tracked, one that involved resurrecting a dormant action hero by the name of Jack Ryan.  Remember?  Much like speculators are driving the cost of crude oil sky high right now; the head honchos at Paramount had a similar agenda in 2002.  The commodity wasn’t oil though.  No, it was something much more dangerous…Affleck. 

Right now this probably seems like a ludicrous notion:  Build a tentpole action franchise around Ben Affleck.  But, that was the plan.  The outcome was The Sum of All Fears.  Seems like a no brainer:

1. Affleck
2. Clancy
3. Freeman
4. ??
5. Profits

Unfortunately, step 4 tripped them up.  It was a boring, non-sensical foray into mediocraty.  Bourne however, ripped through the summer like a thunderbolt, and the rest is history.  So, two years from now, when the lights go down and you are enjoying Damon go hand-to-hand against Generic Thug C in Costa Rica; be thankful that it isn’t another Affleck/Jack Ryan adventure about stopping nuclear weapons. 

Final Note:   My futures, however, are solidly placed on Director Affleck.  I’m starting the crusade right now to raise his value and equity.  Gone Baby, Gone was electric.