French festival screens new ‘Jason Bourne’ film

US actor Jeremy Renner poses during a photocall for the movie “Jason Bourne : L’Heritage” on the 2nd day of the 38th American Film Festival, in Deauville, northwestern France, on September 1, 2012. AFP PHOTO/CHARLY TRIBALLEAU

DEAUVILLE, France – The “Jason Bourne” blockbuster spy series hit the screens at France’s 38th Deauville film festival with the latest instalment featuring all the usual action but no usual suspect.

It was the second day of the seaside resort’s annual celebration of American film, where 15 filmmakers are vying for the festival’s Grand Prize to be awarded September 8.

The latest film in the popular series, “The Bourne Legacy,” veers from the previous three by leaving out title character Jason Bourne, a CIA agent suffering from memory loss played by Matt Damon.

The change came after Paul Greengrass, who directed the previous two instalments in a series inspired by Robert Ludlum novels, refused to extend the narrative, saying the trilogy was enough.

Instead, Tony Gilroy, the writer behind the original three Bournes, took over as director with a spin-off idea that left the spirit of the series intact but did away with super-spy Bourne.

Actor Jeremy Renner plays new hero Aaron Cross, who like Bourne is a victim of the same government programme that uses genetic engineering to churn out men capable of executing high-risk missions.

Filmed in cities including New York, Karachi and Manila, the movie has already met with success at the North American box office, even briefly taking the top spot last month.

The Deauville festival kicked off Friday with guest of honour Harvey Keitel, star of such screen classics as Abel Ferrara’s “Bad Lieutenant” and Quentin Tarantino’s “Reservoir Dogs.”