"Bourne Identity" Director Dishes

Posted Aug 8th 2007 7:04AM by TMZ Staff

Director Doug Liman has a major hit on his hands, but his exclusive EW "Bourne Identity" diary reveals that the blockbuster auteur almost didn't get to make the movie -- and that megastar Matt Damon's career depended on "Bourne's" success.

Liman says that he first had to convince "Bourne Identity" author Robert Ludlum to let him make the film. Then, he had to secure a studio and a leading man.

Liman eventually scored Matt Damon, but then two of Damon's movies bombed before "Bourne" started shooting.

"Matt tells me his career is now fully riding on this movie -- three strikes and he is out," wrote Liman. "Worse, the director of one of those movies has literally been hospitalized, a casualty of his creative battles with his studio." No pressure!

Liman later went on to produce the "Bourne Supremacy" and the "Bourne Ultimatum."

Filed under: Movies


Tags: doug liman, DougLiman, matt damon, MattDamon

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1. And this is interesting how?

Posted at 12:30PM on Aug 8th 2007 by MsKnowsitYahll

2. Robert Ludlum is dead --how did he talk to him ?

Posted at 12:55PM on Aug 8th 2007 by Diane Beeman

3. Must be a slow news day.

Posted at 1:11PM on Aug 8th 2007 by Richard B.

4. How many sequels of this garbage are we going to see.

Posted at 1:48PM on Aug 8th 2007 by castra regina

5. umm, lesson Matt, don't make movies with jolie! Nobody likes her skanky ass. No joke!

Posted at 2:09PM on Aug 8th 2007 by hello!

6. It is a master work by Matt Damon
an absolute must see!

Ground breaking cinema photography
and all out demanding pace
of sheer excitement.

One of the best action movies
I' ve seen in quite a number of years.

An dgy and smart script

The performance by the cast
was on target
on time
and in tune
with revelancy of today's politiks.

Congratulaions Matt Damon
you hit a grand slam
this summer!

Good Luck!

Posted at 2:39PM on Aug 8th 2007 by Jacob Fogg

7. Yeah, I also thought Robert Ludlum was dead
Guess they got the Ghost Whisperer involved in the negotiations
Who cares anyway..

Posted at 2:50PM on Aug 8th 2007 by amber

8. The article said "Bourne Identity" Diary. And Liman talked to Ludlum about making it not "Bourne Ultimatum" - the recent movie. "Identity" began filming in 2000. I imagine writing on it started long before that. Ludlum died in 2001. No medium needed.. He's not even talking about the new movie.

A little attention to detail it all it took..

Posted at 3:38PM on Aug 8th 2007 by Crappola515

9. Ludlum died in 2004 retards, Bourne identity was made in 2003. thats why the director was able to talk to him, he wasnt dead yet!!!

Posted at 3:42PM on Aug 8th 2007 by Kyle

10. The best movie ever the Bourne series are the only good movie to come out this summer. it was so good I did not get the urge to burn the theater down, look for the writers, directors, actors and beat them to death with a chair for wasting my time and money. Matt rocks as Jason Bourne!!

Posted at 4:18PM on Aug 8th 2007 by NubianGoddez

11. TMZ...why is it that you can't resist dishing on A-list actors? Can't find enough trash bottom feeding on the other side of the tracks with Hilton, Lohan and Spears? Matt Damon is clearly out-of-bounds for your type of "reporting." Please leave him and other actors we admire and respect alone, and stick the the tabloid fare for which you are so well-known.

Posted at 4:41PM on Aug 8th 2007 by May

12. I love the Bourne series. Damon is perfect for the role. Even if Ludlum did not write any other Bourne books, his other books can be made to movies using Damon and will work just as good. Not a good idea to do a fourth Bourne movie. That story is over.

Posted at 11:19PM on Aug 8th 2007 by Krish

13. Yeah, thanks Matt for charging me $7 to listen to your political views. Can Hollywood make a movie that doesn't have a liberal political message? It doesn't appear so.

Posted at 10:34AM on Aug 9th 2007 by Watcher

14. Robert Ludlum died in 2001.

Posted at 12:21PM on Aug 10th 2007 by rj0208

15. It is a master work by Matt Damon
an absolute must see!

Ground breaking cinema photography
and all out demanding pace
of sheer excitement.

One of the best action movies
I' ve seen in quite a number of years.

The casts performance
was smart
edgy
and politikally on time.

Congratulaions Matt Damon
you hit a grand slam
this summer!

Posted at 6:54PM on Aug 18th 2007 by Jacob Fogg

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