Who plays Jason Bourne in the 2002 film "The Bourne Identity"?

In the 2002 film "The Bourne Identity," Matt Damon plays Jason Bourne. Bourne is introduced as an amnesiac man rescued from the Mediterranean with two gunshot wounds and a mysterious laser-projected bank-account number embedded in his body.

The film follows his attempt to discover who he is while evading police, assassins, and the CIA program that trained him. Although Bourne initially has no memory of his identity, he quickly demonstrates exceptional combat, language, and espionage skills, suggesting a highly classified past.

Matt Damon’s casting helped redefine the modern action hero. Unlike the larger-than-life secret agents common in earlier films, Damon’s Bourne is vulnerable, disoriented, and dependent on improvisation. The movie was directed by Doug Liman and based on Robert Ludlum’s 1980 novel, though its story and tone differ substantially from the book.

A common mix-up is confusing Damon’s Bourne with Jeremy Renner’s Aaron Cross, the lead character in 2012’s "The Bourne Legacy." Damon returned as Bourne in three later films, including "The Bourne Supremacy," "The Bourne Ultimatum," and "Jason Bourne."