Source: Stuff.co.nz

Matt Damon has lashed out at Ian Fleming's famous British spy, James Bond,currently portrayed by Daniel Craig.

The Bourne Identity actor - who plays CIA agent Jason Bourne in three hit films - said: "He's repulsive. Bond is an imperialist, misogynist, sociopath who goes around bedding women and swilling martinis and killing people. "The movies have a formula, they stick to it, and it makes them a lot of money. They know what they are doing and they're going to keep doing it."

Damon was due to play Eliot Ness - a US agent who is famous for his efforts to enforce prohibition in Chicago during the 20s - in new film Torso, but the movie has fallen victim to the current economic climate. It was due to be directed by David Fincher - whose latest movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button received 13 Oscar nominations - but Paramount Pictures pulled the plug on the project, fearing it could cost more than £120 million (about $170 million) to make.

A source said: "Paramount are still keen to make Torso but don't want it to be an expensive risk so are looking at ways to bring it in for less money. If they can't make their sums work, other Hollywood studios may well step in."