The future of the blockbuster Jason Bourne films could be in doubt after British director Paul Greengrass quit in a dispute with studio bosses.

Identity crisis: Matt Damon as Bourne

Greengrass, who directed The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum, was lined up to return
for a fourth instalment of the film franchise, again starring Matt Damon.

But reports from Hollywood say he has resigned from the project after studio bosses at Universal hired a new writer for the sequel without telling him.

The series, which began in 2002 with The Bourne Identity, tells the story of a former CIA operative trying to regain his memory. It has made more than $900 million at the box office.

But Greengrass walked away from the fourth film after he discovered the script by his preferred writer George Nolfi failed to impress film bosses who brought in another writer, Josh Zetumer, to come up with a new story. The director was not told about the change of writers and resigned.

There are fears that Damon, who is known to be loyal to Greengrass and stars in his new film Green Zone, may follow the director and quit the film, leaving film bosses without a star.

Universal Pictures has suffered a series of expensive flops this year and was keen for a guaranteed hit but The Bourne UItimatum went over budget and studio bosses are concerned about any new Bourne film doing the same.

In a statement, Greengrass said: “Jason Bourne existed before me and will continue, and I hope to remain involved in some capacity as the series moves on.”

Hollywood sources said there had been an “artistic dispute” which all parties were “working to resolve”.

Filming was scheduled to begin next year.