Bourne Identity: The True Story

Jason Bourne is the ultimate CIA operative, brainwashed into performing assassinations for a secret cell within the Agency. As far-fetched as it sounds, in this episode of The True Story, we reveal that many aspects of Robert Ludlum's original books, and the subsequent Bourne movie franchise, are rooted in fact. 

In a rare interview, Bourne Identity director Doug Liman describes how the Iran-Contra case, in which his father was the Chief Prosecutor, provided the real-life inspiration for the fictional secret cell ‘Treadstone'. He also reveals how his incredible meetings with a real assassin helped to create Bourne's on-screen persona. 

We also explore the bizarre, secret mind control programme called MK Ultra, aimed at creating a brainwashed ‘Manchurian Candidate', and reveal the tragic story of a woman who claims she was drugged and given electric shock treatments in unsanctioned MK Ultra experiments. Finally, we explore the training in weapons, combat and advanced driving that the real-life Bournes of the Special Activities Division undergo today.