The Bourne “trilogy” supposedly concluded in 2007 with The Bourne Supremacy, but director and writer Tony Gilroy is coming back for more with The Bourne Legacy. Matt Damon is no longer involved with the franchise, but hollywood’s hottest new action star, Jeremy Renner, is poised to steal the show.
The path to fame has been a long one for Jeremy Renner. The Modesto, California native moved to Los Angeles in 1993 and got his first role in the movie Senior Trip. Renner had a passion for acting and was willing to give up a lot to chase his dreams. He lived paycheck to paycheck and worked commercials and construction to pay the bills. He still runs that construction company with friend and actor Kristoffer Winters started when acting jobs were hard to come by.
“I wasn’t super-happy being so poor. Eating on $10 a month—probably not very good for you. But I loved what I was doing. Not every actor gives their life to do this job. Some just do it as a job. Well, it’s my life.”
It took 15 years for Renner to land his breakout role in 2003’s The Hurt Locker. He received an Academy Award nomination for his performance and that catapulted him to roles in several action movies. With big roles in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, The Avengers, and The Town Renner has established himself as a star.
He has the dramatic presence to carry the load as the leading man, but also the physicality and athleticism to be taken seriously for action roles. Renner always stays in pretty good shape, but to be ready to carry on The Bourne Legacy he had to ramp up his workout program.
The Bourne movies have always featured an incredibly fit Matt Damon, but Renner brings more of an athletic pedigree to the role. Renner’s training for the role kept him out of the weight room for the most part. His program included Muay Thai, Stick Fighting, Knife Throwing, and a heavy emphasis on boxing. The fight training killed two birds with one stone. It prepared Renner for the heavy physical demands of playing secret agent Aaron Cross and also gave him the lean athletic look desired for the role.
Renner has become a workout warrior and has gained admiration for his incredible work ethic. He even impressed Mission Impossible co-star Tom Cruise.
“Here he is, he’s a musician, he’s interested in design, he’s got a curiosity about life, and he’s just, in every way, an incredible dramatic actor.”
The Bourne Legacy will cast Jeremy Renner into full-fledged action hero stardom. Be sure to check it out when enters theaters on August 10th.
