After a gripping turn in “Nightcrawler” led to a key role in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” Riz Ahmed is keeping his career momentum going, as he has just joined the cast of the next Jason Bourne movie starring Matt Damon, an individual familiar with the deal has told TheWrap.
Paul Greengrass is directing the film, which co-stars Alicia Vikander, Vincent Cassel, Tommy Lee Jones and returning cast member Julia Stiles.
Ahmed will play a tech specialist at the CIA, though plot details are being kept in a locked drawer at the agency. Production is already well under way, but Ahmed’s deal just closed on Wednesday, as it took some savvy scheduling with “Rogue One.”
Greengrass co-wrote the script with Christopher Rouse and is producing with Frank Marshall, Jeffrey Weiner, Ben Smith, Greg Goodman and Damon. Rouse will executive produce with Henry Morrison.
Universal’s three “Bourne” starring Damon have collectively grossed nearly $1 billion worldwide, and the latest installment will hit theaters on July 29, 2016.
Ahmed broke out in the terrorism comedy “Four Lions” and will soon be seen opposite John Turturro (who replaced James Gandolfini) in HBO’s “Criminal Justice.” He’s represented by CAA and Gordon and French. His casting was first reported by Variety.