Universal Pictures has hired screenwriter Anthony Peckham (Sherlock Holmes) to write a follow-up to 2012's The Bourne Legacy, continuing the story of Jeremy Renner's character Aaron Cross.

The Bourne Legacy, which earned $276 million worldwide last summer from a $125 million budget, followed Aaron Cross, one of the agents in Operation Outcome who was genetically enhanced to be a superior soldier. When the government decides to eliminate all of these covert operatives, Cross goes on the run and targets those trying to take him out.

Back in February, Universal's Adam Fogelson confirmed that a sequel was in the works, but this is the first we've heard about the project since then. The executive also mentioned the possibility of the original Bourne trilogy star Matt Damon returning as Jason Bourne, although insiders claim the studio hasn't made any progress in getting the actor to come back. Matt Damon had previously stated that he will only reprise that role if The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum director Paul Greengrass comes back as well.

Anthony Peckham's other writing credits include Don't Say a Word and Invictus. He also has projects such as Yucatan, The Twilight Zone and Deep Sea Cowboys in development.