By Borys Kit
August 21-23, 2009
Josh Zetumer has signed to pen the fourth installment in Universal’s “Bourne” movie series, writing was being described as a parallel script. George Nolfi, who worked on “The Bourne Ultimatum,” initially came back for the fourth entry. He also boarded to write and direct “The Adjustment Bureau,” an adaptation of a Philip K. Dick short story that reteams him with “Bourne star Matt Damon.
But as the movie nears its September start date, Nolfi had to step away from “Bourne” part of its 2011 slate, Universal hired Zetumer to write a new script. It is unclear what will occur after his draft is submitted or whether his script will be integrated with Nolfi’s.
Our hope is that Nolfi, a key member of the ‘Bourne’ team, will return after he is done with “THe Adjustment Bureau,” a Universal spokesperson said.
Writing two scripts, though rare, is not without precedent in the tentpole movie world. “Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer” and “Wolverine” are movies that had parallel scripts commissioned and sometimes had them combined. “Conan,” still in development, is another project that falls into that category.
Frank Marshall and Jeffrey Weiner are producing the latest “Bourne.”
Zetumer, repped by UTA and Management 360, is generating heat around town for writing “Dune” for Pete Berg and Paramount. He wrote “The Infiltration” for Warner Bros., to which Leonardo DiCaprio is attached and is being produced by Film 360, Appian Way and David Beinoff.