'Jason Bourne' release date news 2016: Matt Damon to reprise titular role; actor talks reason for comeback

To speak of Jason Bourne and the "Bourne" film series is to mean Matt Damon, who has been the constant face of the character since it came into being on the big screen. That is, of course, with the exception of one "Bourne" movie, "The Bourne Legacy." Yet, that one does not really count as it was not about Jason Bourne but a newly introduced main character, Aaron Cross, played by Jeremy Renner.

To say that "Bourne" fans have missed seeing Damon in another "Bourne" movie would perhaps be an understatement. However, the much-anticipated moment will finally be here, and soon enough, with the latest in the film series set to release this year. The film, earlier known only as "Bourne 5," was later revealed to be titled "Jason Bourne."

Damon has spoken about his comeback which has taken almost a decade. The Oscar-Award winner admitted he had thought there would be a "zero chance" of him making another "Bourne" movie and confessed he had some concerns about doing it at his age.

"Being 29 and being 45 is completely different," the actor shared.

But he had been reassured on that score by a friend of his, Ben Affleck, who had played Batman in "Batman vs Superman."

The "Good Will Hunting" star also went on to state his main reason for making "Jason Bourne," which is the fifth in the series.

He attributed it to the loyal fans of the film series who apparently touched him by their support and longing for him to do another "Bourne" installment.

He shared, "People would come up (to me) on the street and ask, 'Are you guys going to make another one?'"

The 45-year-old actor added, "I've been in the movie business long enough to realise what a gift that is. Having an audience that is actually there and really wants to see something is not to be taken lightly."

"The Bourne" films follow the flight of a CIA assassin who suffers from severe memory loss and is trying to discover who he is. All three films, "The Bourne identity" (2002), "The Bourne Supremacy" (2004), and "The Bourne Ultimatum" (2007) were based on Robert Ludlum's novels of the same titles and starred Damon. The first one was directed by Doug Liman. The other two, including this latest film, are directed by Paul Greengrass.

The 2012 film, "The Bourne Legacy," was directed by Tony Gilroy, who had co-written all earlier films, but which Damon opted not to do.

Starring alongside Damon are Alicia Vikander, Julia Stiles, and Tommy Lee Jones. "Jason Bourne" is set for release by Universal Pictures in the U.S. on July 29.