Well, this is an interesting development for Alicia Vikander’s career. Back during the Cannes Film Festival, Alicia was having movie deals and scripts thrown in her direction. Over the course of a week, it felt like we were hearing about Alicia being “in talks” to star with her lover Michael Fassbender in Assassin’s Creed, then maybe working on Tom Hanks’ new movie, and maybe the love interest in the new Jason Bourne film. Well… it looks like Hollywood’s It Girl couldn’t do everything, so she had to make some hard choices. And her choice was… Matt Damon over Fassbender. I know! Matty D over Fassy Bender. Crazy. (True, CB would make the same call every single day and twice on Sundays.)
Alicia Vikander has now been set to star in the next instalment of the Jason Bourne saga opposite Matt Damon, Deadline can confirm. She will not, however, be starring in Justin Kurzel’s Assassins Creed pic opposite Michael Fassbender.
The Swedish star, currently the equivalent of a cinematic supernova following a starmaking turn in Alex Garland’s sleeper hit Ex Machina, could not get her schedule to accommodate both projects. Deadline also understands she is unlikely to circle back to The Circle as things currently stand. That project, with Image Nation Abu Dhabi fully financing and presenting the film in association with Parkes Macdonald Productions, was one of the hot sellers at this year’s Cannes market for IM Global. Based on a Dave Eggers novel and written and directed by James Ponsoldt, The Circle has Tom Hanks attached to star and produce alongside Gary Goetzman through their shingle Playtone and Anthony Bregman’s Likely Story.
Vikander’s star should continue to rise, as she has Warner Bros’ The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Tom Hooper’s The Danish Girl for Working Title, the Weinstein Co’s Tulip Fever, John Wells’ Adam Jones with Bradley Cooper and Jamie Dornan and Derek Cianfrance’s The Light Between Oceans opposite Michael Fassbender all wrapped and in the pipelines.
I’m enjoying the list of films she’s got coming out this year. Remember, Alicia is planning on attending the 2016 Oscars to support three of those films. By my estimations, she’ll probably be invited to present and Eddie Redmayne will probably be nominated for The Danish Girl, but beyond that… no, she’s not going to have the big awards-crazy year that she thinks she will.
As for the Bourne film… I think that’s the safe choice. Meaning it’s probably the best for her career at this particular moment. She’s an indie darling, and It Girl, but she’s not a household name. The Bourne franchise is tried-and-true and people will be thrilled to see Matt Damon return to a celebrated and popular role. If I was in Alicia’s position, I’d probably choose the Bourne franchise over the “unknown” of Fassy’s long-gestating Assassin’s Creed project too. Plus, Matty D is The Sex as Jason Bourne – shhh, don’t tell CB I said that.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and Getty.
I’d choose Bourne, too. It’s probably more money.
Not working w/ Fassy probably works best for their relationship.
Matt Damon is looking better now than he ever did. The extra weight suits him, it fills out his face and neck making him look younger and his face a nicer proportion. Hot man. I love the Bourne movies.
She’s gorgeous, I haven’t seen her in anything yet.
Totally agree. Never found him attractive in the nineties, but now? Wow.
Absolutely agree. When I saw him on Elysium I was like Damn… I never knew he could be so hot! 🙂
One of my longest standing celeb crushes.
@All you Ladies coming on board the ‘Matty D is the Hotness!’ train …
CB (Celebitchy) and I have said and known this for years! I am SO happy to ‘finally’ have company on that train. 🙂
P.S. At Kaiser …
I wouldn’t be so quick to label this child as Jason Bourne’s love interest. Julia Stiles has been cast to reprise her role as Nicky Parsons and there were definitely sparks between her character and Jason in “The Bourne Ultimatum.”
THANK YOU JESUS! They finally realised how stupid it would look to see them together in a movie again. That over exposure would do them no good.
I think Marion Cotillard is attached to AC so I bet the biggest female part would be hers so maybe Bourne has a bigger/better role?
+1
She’s making a well thought out, logical and smart decision. Actors on the rise chose to play a bigger role in a high profile films all the time without shade from the public why should it be any different for a woman?
And her breakout role was in Anna Karenina. It was Kera Knightley’s movie but Alicia stole the show and got the best reviews.
Sometimes just being in an ensemble of a few award buzzy movies can do wonders, look at Benny in 2014.
Bourne is a better choice, especially since it’s not with scrotum faced Renner plus if she and Fassy break up….
Scrotum faced Renner !! LOL !!!!
“Scrotum faced Renner” made me spit out my coffee!!! Omg
I HATE the Renner Bourne movie. I hope they just ignore it completely in the new film. Who green lit that disaster?
@Lila Fowler, who wrote: “I HATE the Renner Bourne movie. I hope they just ignore it completely in the new film. Who green lit that disaster?”
Universal Studios green lit that film because they wanted to make more money. They couldn’t use the Jason Bourne character (Robert Ludlum’s Estate owns the character) because Robert Ludlum’s Estate has stipulated (at least, they did at the time) that the Bourne character can only be used in connection with novels (brought to screen) written by Robert Ludlum.
“The Bourne Legacy” film, based upon a book written by Eric Van Lustbader, was never meant to be a part of the ‘Jason Bourne’ film franchise, it was pitched from the start as an independent entry to introduce the Renner character in a ‘new’ franchise. Universal Studios said this plainly when they first announced the film project, but when they saw how excited people were thinking it was another ‘Jason Bourne’ film they began to use the Bourne character when promoting the film, hoping to put butts in the seat. I can’t believe how many people actually believed Matt Damon was going to costar in “Bourne Legacy” as Jason Bourne.
@Lila Fowler …
Sorry! I forgot to say that “The Bourne Legacy” novel is about Jason Bourne’s son (hence the title), but they couldn’t use ‘that’ subject in the film because it really would have meant using the Jason Bourne character and, as I said in my prior post, the Ludlum Estate has forbidden the character’s use in anything accept a Robert Ludlum novel. I don’t know if the Ludlum Estate has now relented on their original stipulation, but Universal had selected a Robert Ludlum novel to convert to the screen as a 4th Jason Bourne film, but Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass (both of whom were given script approval after the success of “The Bourne Ultimatum”) didn’t like either the first or second script presented to them. I can’t wait to see if this film will be based upon a Ludlum novel or if the Estate has finally given them license to make an original film featuring Jason Bourne.
The movie lost me when it blew up HOT!HOT!HOT! Oscar Isaac in the first 20 minutes.
So Jason Bourne likes them 20 years younger too hmmm? (Technically 18 but gross).
Yeah, that was what I thought of too. Matt is in good sahpe for his age but they will look pretty mis-matched age-wise IMO.
Julia Stiles is coming back so Alicia might not be the love interest.
I hope it isn’t his love interest. I know, it’s the same ol’, same ol’, but yet again, the 44-year-old actor gets a 20-something co-star, continuing to permeate Hollywood’s obsession with older men/younger women. It’s just an overall devaluing of women in general as if they are commodities that have a ten-year shelf life, and then they are sexless entities who can only serve as moms or bitchy bosses, etc.
That said, Matty D >>> Fassy x a million.
@Sunny, who wrote: “So Jason Bourne likes them 20 years younger too hmmm? (Technically 18 but gross).”
Please don’t confuse Jason Bourne with James Bond. There have never been any ‘Bourne’ Girls. The closest they ever came to it was the Nicky Parsons character, and ‘that’ possibility wasn’t until the 3rd film. I guess the best thing is to suggest that you actually ‘watch’ the films, the second and third of which have no love interests whatsoever (only a glimmer of possibility in the third film, quickly squashed by Jason Bourne).
And hey here’s a thought: perhaps this actress will play his daughter as I believe Robert Ludlum created a family for Bourne in one of the three novels.
Wow Emma.
I actually own ALL of the Bourne films and am looking forward to the next.
My comment was more directed towards the ongoing conversation of casting significantly younger leading ladies to play opposite the ever aging hero, not lumping Bourne with Bond.
@Sunny, who wrote: “My comment was more directed towards the ongoing conversation of casting significantly younger leading ladies to play opposite the ever aging hero …”
So was mine. I was simply pointing out that in this particular instance, the Bourne films have never been all about having a young honey play his romantic interest, aging or otherwise … like the in Bond films, where James Bond has to shag at least three young women each film. The only love interest in the Bourne films was Marie, played by Franke Potente, and she’s 4-years younger than Matt Damon. As someone who has seen the Bourne films, you know that, right? It wasn’t a personal attack against you.
Lead versus supporting to Marion? Nah it makes good sense.
She’s not delusional at all on the awards comment. She didn’t say she’d be nominated, but that she thought her films were strong. I’m not sure why people are so put out by it. Danish Girl absolutely. Ex Machina could surprise and I could definitely see a screenplay nomination. Hell even Man From Uncle looks gorgeous so if it’s good it could score tech/artistic nods.
After the disaster of The Seventh Son, I think she probably wants to add a tried and tested blockbuster to her resume.
Matt Damon always. And twice on Sundays hahahahha. Sidenote, this might sound like a really odd compliment, but she has a super cute nose. I wish I had a nose like that!
Her smug is bigger than Natalie Portman’s.
Her last movie Testament Of Youth was a BO disappointment with all publicity and interviews that they made. Deadline and Indiewire wrote some articles about this. Public doesn’t like her
She’s one of those people that oozes smugness. The kind of actress you avoid seeing a movie just because she’s in it. I feel the same about Liam Hensworth, for some bizarre reason.
I am the same thing, I still think she is smug and I don’t understand why is Michael Fassbender is tall with her. I am not throwing shade at her career, I think her big push of her career is tremendous, I think she is nice and genuine but she need to tone down.
She was great in Ex Machina but she played a robot. Every time I see her in photos, I ask, “But can she play a human?” She just doesn’t look relatable at all.
Testament of Youth had a very limited release,with little publicity. They had no budget to promote it. Ex Machina is a BO success,it’s not true that public doesn’t like her.
So what’s with the Adam Jones movie? Too lazy to do any dogging. Think Bourne is the smarter choice as well.
Her role in Adam Jones is very tiny. Her name isn’t on the poster
I read that she has less than 5 minutes screen time in Adam Jones. I’ll cop to not really liking her (from interviews), but she’s very pretty and is a decent actress. Of the films that have been released: Seventh Son was crap but that’s not on her, Ex Machina was a great script & very well directed and she did a good job with Ava, she got good press for Testament of Youth but it had no publicity budget and vanished from the theaters without a blip… She has to hope that Man from UNCLE doesn’t bomb (she’s playing the typical female-in- an-action-movie part) and that her character has some flair/pep. I think her Oscar dreams rest on Tulip Fever (she’s the female lead), The Danish Girl (she’s the female lead), and The Light Between Oceans (she’s the female lead). Not inconceivable that she might get an Oscar non for one of these performances, far more likely one (or two) of the films will be nominated for best picture and she’ll be invited to attend.
Interesting – she’s obviously decided to go full-tilt for stardom, as opposed to going for a Mia Wasikowska-style prestigious indie career. I don’t blame her for that – being a star means more money, and ultimately a better choice of roles – but I wonder whether her nuanced acting style will stand out in a Bourne film.
Alicia did say she was ready to be more famous so her moves make sense. I love Mia Wasikowska, she had a lot of buzz several years ago, I hope she doesn’t disappears since she doesn’t seem interested in the fame game. She could have been in Carol and Cloud of Sil marias (though she wasn’t the first choice, apparently). I hope Crimson Peak delivers, and she is offered more high profile roles because I loved her Jane Eyre, Stoker, Only lovers left alive, tracks and the kids are all right. I’m trying to forget Alice in wonderland, but she did what she could with her thankless role.
Never saw that Jane Eyre and am planning to see Tracks soon. Saw those other films and Wasikowska just killed it in Stoker and Only Lovers Left Alive. Slayed it. She’s the real deal as a young actress. Are her looks getting in the way of her being in bigger movies? I don’t care, I would love it if she just kept indie-ing for the rest of her life, maybe one day she can even inherit Tilda’s crown. (She played Tilda’s younger sister in Only Lovers and I thought [this is heresy I know] that she was the best part of the whole movie, because her character was hilarious!)
Agreed. I love Matt Damon and when you add in his personality, love for his girls and humanitarian efforts…super attractive all around
+1
I hope she kicks ass in bourne and is not playing a damsel in distress or Matt’s love interest, she is way too young for that. She is very pretty and she can act imo, I loved her in Ex machina, a royal affair and Anna Karenina. But she seems a little smug and thirsty (though who is not in hollywood?).
I think she has a good shot at an oscar nomination for the danish girl, there are already a lot of buzz around this film. If her category is not too crowned she could make it, like Keira and Felicity this year, even when the male characters were more oscar baity. This is the kind of movie the academy loves, even if it’s a boring period drama. So if the movie is not bad, it could be nominated for best picture (like “les miserables”) and help her chances. I wonder if she going to campaign for lead or supporting, though.
I haven’t seen Ex Machina yet but really enjoyed her in The royal affair.
And probably unpopular opinion here, since she seems to hit people’s nerves, she was one of the best part of the awful Anna Karenina, along with Gleeson. Their Kitty-Levin pairing was very touching.
Not unpopular. Many people remarked how she was better than Keira.
I have to say … maybe it’s just a thought, but why do people -seem- to always compare here to women that have acted in films with Fassbender?
Is she really that good? I’ve never seen her in anything but I have seen an interview. She’s really charming and cute but it seems like she’s the new thing everyone’s excited about and that’s always a bit dangerous. Also that silvery outfit is horrendous but her skin is crazy gorgeous.
Read her profile on NY Times. They called her The Blake Lively of the Thinking Man LMAO
wtf?? what does it even mean? it doesn’t really sound like a compliment.
It wasn’t a compliment – you can tell from the interview that either her or her PR team had done something to piss off the NYT journalist.
She’s good in two swedish movies that she’s the lead. Other than that she’s ok. Can’t see the hype about her talent. Her face is EXACTLY the same in everything plus in real life. The only interesting thing about her is her boyfriend. Sorry not sorry
LOL! When first I saw pictures of her bc I had no clue of who she was, heck I still don’t know … the first face that came to mind was Vega at The Mentalist, I think the actress name is Josie Loren. Then I went … ups, not Vega.
She was pretty great in TESTAMENT OF YOUTH which I loved, loved, loved. I also liked her in EX MACHINA but not enough that I would agree it’s “star-making.”
I’m undecided on her IRL personality but from what little I’ve seen so far, she’s got some solid on-screen presence.
@littlemissnaughty: Remember seeing her in that outfit and thinking “Lady Macbeth Couture Spring Line Cannes 2015!!!” … I think it could back fire this whole “it girl thing” … at least for me, if you try and shove something down my throat sort to speak, you will lose my attention.
Bourne was the better option. Marion Cotillard has the female lead in AC and how many strong female characters can a film based on a video game have? It’s usually just a bunch of dudes killing each other.
Both AC and Bourne will film in London at the same time and same studio with the same Exec. Producer so it’s not like she abandoned Fassy all together, lol.
And yes, Matt Damon is looking mighty fine. (but Fassy’s still my #1)
i’m sick of her already.
I wish no one ill will … but yes, I agree, I am tired of hearing about her in an odd way, specially when her movies will not be shown in movie houses here, even the articles about her being branded the “it girl” seem weird, as in the way they are written … It’s like not even the writers warm up to her … and the NY Times -I think it was that one- …wow!
I think the journalist was annoyed by her publicist,not by her.
@Hele: Then she should fire her publicist, not doing her any favors tbh. It was an odd interview, way too much shade, to her and in a way to him the “rake about town” – I think that was the comment – was priceless in a OMG, I LMAO.
Yeah, they’re trying to make her happen… she’s not happening!
She’ll be drummed up for a few more years and fade back to working character actor, but if she were star material we would have seen it already.
So many movies in such a short period of time. Who does she think she is, Chastain?
Let’s be honest, they might be broken up before the movie gets made—not saying that snarkily, just saying he is not the settling down type. This is a better move for her.
She must have an impressive PR team because I never heard of her until she got with Fassbender and then I watched the Royal Affair and I must admit, she was quite good. I wish her well. I hope she just has fun with Fassy, for I think a lot of women would have an issue being with such a man.
My honest opinion, I think she made a good move on how her career is going. So good going Twinkle Toes. In my past post about her was not to shade her but to encourage her, if she just be not be over zealous about her more famous shick. She is famous already, and as much as I love michael Fassbender and I do, but I still do not see them lasting anytime soon. Her career is on the rise quickly unlike Michael Fassbender’s career. Also, and people may agree to disagree, but Alexander Skarsgard bad Alicia Vikander would make a beautiful couple. They are both quiet and nice, also pretentious.
Why do you think Fassbender’s career is faltering? Because of Steve jobs movie? One movie surely can’t tank someone…
Matty’s a bigger star and his Bourne movies sell themselves. Smart move on her part.
Besides, by the time either of these movies are released, she’ll be glad she’s not promoting a movie with her ex-boyfriend.
Don’t write that girl! There are fans of his – and apparently hers- in the interwebz- that say this is true love and will last always!!!
yeah, they said the same thing about Nicole behari, and look how that turn out. I am not saying this will happen for her, but we know MF track record. Be as it may, I really don’t like her because she’s cocky and stil do not understand why he is with her, she is very pretty. But I do thin she is a good actress.
Will admit that I started to read the comments about Fassbender when the Madalina G. -whatever that was – happened … so, I have no clue about what if anything was said about Nichole B. (I like Sleepy Hallow!!- but aside from that have no comment)
I was referring to the young women that are writing – elsewhere – and saying that if you write that they as a couple are not going to last – according to them – whomever they are – you are a passive aggressive person … LMAO! 🙂
I read this things cause the comments crack me up!
LMAO! So, business – or want to be more known – instead of – “love” or more likely lust …. you gotta love it! I can’t stop laughing … God, hopefully she is NOT Matt D.’s love interest, please! – or was that confirmed already? For me she does not have it girl factor in her. I love the Bourne franchise, so let’s see.
I haven’t seen her in anything yet, but it’s almost bizarre how many things she has being offered her right now. I think Bourne is a smart choice, it will be a mainstream hit and raise her profile, and probably her asking price a little too.
Typical Hollywood. Why does the love interest of the male leading character have to be so much younger? I know Damon has a baby face and always has, but he is old enough to be her father!
She’s clearly choosing a bigger paycheck. She already has the buzz, now it’s time for her to make some money. I don’t like her. I think she’s overrated. I like d Ex Machina but I’m not sold on the buzz over her performance: a good script makes miracles and makes look good an average actor. She still has to prove, IMHO a lot. And I don’t like her fame-wh*re ways. Too thirsty.
Smart girl, putting Business First over the Fassydong. She’s got a good head career wise on her shoulders despite being a bit cocky, and I’m glad to see a female actress being openly ambitious in her career and not being ashamed of being so.
Assassin’s Creed is a new franchise but Kurzel,Cotillard,Fassbender are more exciting than any new Bourne movie,but she has made a smart choice. She’d have been supporting to Cotillard. Bourne and Assassin’s Creed will film in London at the same time,she can spend time with her boyfriend too.
Btw,I’ve seen the last week Ex Machina and she’s really great.
I agree in that I like her movie lineup and yeah, Bourne was the better choice from a career standpoint. Totally see why she is the next hot thing – she’s pretty, talented and has pretty good fashion sense. Plus she and Fassy make a cute couple.
A question: if she’s the lead female, then what will that make Julia Stiles, who is coming back? Will she have just a small role? That must suck for Julia. I’m more invested in Nikki than some random new girl.
Also, being the female lead in Bourne is better than being the main lead in The Circle movie with Tom Hanks? Maybe my ego’s just big, but I’d rather be the main attraction than the girlfriend.
Who said that she is the female lead? there’s nothing about her character in the articles about the film!, they only say that Viggo Mortensen will have “a key role” – probably the most important after Damon – and that Julia Stiles will comeback, how does that make Alicia the female lead? will she play Bourne’s daughter? lol
I would hit it. Both of them.