After taking on 'Star Trek''s James T. Kirk last May, Chris Pine is working his way up to playing another icon, novelist Tom Clancy's heroic Jack Ryan.According to Variety, Pine is in early negotiations with Paramount to reboot a series that kicked off in 1990, with Alec Baldwin playing the CIA operative in 'The Hunt for Red October.'
"With Chris in this role, we've taken our first step in creating a reboot that lives up to the successful lineage of the franchise," said Adam Goodman, Paramount Film Group president, in a prepared statement.
Pine has been a busy boy since Paramount's 'Star Trek' relaunch grossed $385 million globally over the spring and summer. He just appeared in Paramount Vantage low-budget virus-themed horror movie 'Carriers' (it was released in just a few theaters last month, and if you sneezed, you probably missed it). He's currently shooting the Tony Scott-directed thriller 'Unstoppable' alongside Denzel Washington. And earlier in the week, it was reported that the 29-year-old actor is in separate talks with Paramount about starring as a master counterfeiter in a movie adaptation of the nonfiction book 'The Art of Making Money.'
But make no mistake, lining up the Jack Ryan role would immediately establish Pine as one of Hollywood's leading action heroes. The role certainly had that affect for Harrison Ford, who picked up where Baldwin left off for 'Patriot Games' (which grossed an impressive 178 million 1992 dollars at the global box office). Ford followed that up with 1994's 'Clear and Present Danger,' which hauled in $216 million worldwide. Ben Affleck was the last guy to fill Ryan's shoes, starring alongside Morgan Freeman in 2002's 'The Sum of All Fears' -- which grossed $193 million globally, despite what most critics considered an underwhelming performance from Affleck. As for Pine, it remains unclear at this point which of Clancy's 14 Jack Ryan novels would be adapted for him first. But regardless, we're just glad it looks like Ryan will be springing back into action sooner rather than later.
Reader Comments (54)
ms kraazicock at 10:07AM on Oct 18th 2009
Harrision Ford--by far is the best 'Jack Ryan'. Ben Affleck won the Oscar by default. He can't act is way out of a paper bag. I have a hard time watching him in films as he is a bad actor.
sonoran at 2:43PM on Oct 17th 2009
"Clear and Present Danger" kicked some major booty.
Harrison Ford IS and always will be Jack Ryan.
Accept no compromise or facsimile.
Good luck Mr Pine.
I don't see much dif between him or Affleck.
Brig at 2:56PM on Oct 17th 2009
ronnie is your fat between your ears. This site has nothing to do with overweight fatheads. Take your acia ad eleswhere where people care.
dawn at 3:29PM on Oct 17th 2009
please not another clean cut plastic faced young man . i want some one with character and maybe a few lines on his face please Harrison ford is and always will be Jack Ryan!!!!!
Susan at 7:10PM on Oct 17th 2009
Did not see that comming, first thing out of my mouth was "OMG what a disappointment". I can not see this guy as Jack Ryan, and are they re-casting the wife too? Again, what a disappointment!
Roz J. at 3:26PM on Oct 17th 2009
Harrison Ford has been washed up for years. He has a handful of emotions and facial expressiions, all the same, movie after movie. Very few out there as boring as he has become.
Joachim at 3:39PM on Oct 17th 2009
Harrison Ford is one of the best actors on the face of the Earth. Washed Up? Are you kidding me? Roz, you obviously do not know what you are talking about. Knowledge is power!
ben at 9:56PM on Oct 17th 2009
Harrison Ford and "greatest actor" will never be published in any book on acting. And yeas, he runs the range of emotions from A to B. I can't think of a more boring actor...and I'm an actor!!Roz is obviously more perceptive than you, Joach.
Mike at 5:02PM on Oct 17th 2009
I'd love to see another Clancy inspired movie. As much as I'd like to see Jack Ryan, I'd like to see a Red Storm Rising movie more. Couldn't put it down until I finished it. Perhaps Jack Ryan could be inserted somewhere. I know he wasn't written into the story in the book, perhaps Tom Clancy wouldn't mind.
Jim at 6:36PM on Oct 17th 2009
I agree heartily, Mike. "Red Storm" is still my favorite Clancy book, even absent Jack Ryan. I wonder if our collective psyche could handle a movie version of " Debt Of Honor"? An airplane crashing into the Capitol and nearly wiping out our government might be too close to the 9/11 holocaust scenario for the American people. Thoughts?
Fred at 4:12PM on Oct 17th 2009
Ford is the only logical replacement.
A good way to kill the program is have Baldwin or Affleck.
Herb at 4:11PM on Oct 17th 2009
Who the heck is pine? Give me Harrison Ford if you want to keep the program alive
miguel at 4:16PM on Oct 17th 2009
To me harrison Ford was THE Jack Ryan, just like SEan connory was THE JAMES BOND but i can change my mind,lol
Aunt Jemima at 4:17PM on Oct 17th 2009
That Pine guy looks like the type of guy women on Birth Control Pills would choose to have sex with when they are not ovulating. Studies have shown that women only want to mix their DNA with real man man types. A preferable DNA mixer is a guy with a double chin, beer belly, who farts often. Women always marry the Pine type of guy but divorce him soon and shake up with a beer drinking slob.
John at 4:19PM on Oct 17th 2009
I like Harrison Ford in most movies but he was the wrong person for Jack Ryan (Too old). I liked Alec Baldwin best as Jack Ryan in Hunt for Red October (right age, looks etc..) I love the novels but as they made more of them into movies they strayed too far away from the book plots and the movies were a big dissappointment. Red October was good. Patriot Games was so-so. Clear and Present Danger was bad. (it is my favorite Clancy book), etc.. I just wish Hollywood would keep the plots closer to the books.
Bob at 6:05PM on Oct 17th 2009
I agree John- I'm a big Harrison Ford fan, but being a big fan of Clancy's books, always thought he was too old for the part of Jack Ryan. Liked the movie version of Red October, but didn't care for Patriot Games or Clear & Present (didn't bother to see Sum of All Fears). If they're going to reboot the franchise, Pine is at least in the right age range.
valerie at 4:23PM on Oct 17th 2009
No one will ever replace...Harrison Ford...as Jack Ryan!!!!!!!
June G at 9:38AM on Oct 18th 2009
Harrison Ford is the best actor to portray Jack Ryan. I watched every movie he has ever made over and over again.
Raymond of the clan Armstrong at 4:29PM on Oct 17th 2009
Roz. I can't believe you don't like Harrison Ford?
Oh Well...
OK. Who would you like to see playing Jack Ryan?
A supposed "Professional" Wrestler? How bout a vapid pretty boy of the "Twilight" type?
Just kidding around Roz. It would be interesting to hear who you and others would like to see playing the part of Jack Ryan.
mrsmayes at 9:32PM on Oct 17th 2009
i think george clooney would be a good replacement. or how about daniel craig? let me think.....
i know there has to be somebody out there better then harrison ford's old ass...