ROTTEN TOMATOES: Sam Raimi, Meet Jack Ryan

Sam Raimi, Meet Jack Ryan

Director bringing Clancy's hero back to theaters.

by Jeff Giles | March 20, 2008

It looks like Paramount really is planning a Jack Ryan revival -- and they're looking to Sam Raimi to help them make it happen.

Variety reports that the studio is "in negotiations" with Raimi to head up what reads like an ambitious plan to reinvigorate the flagging film fortunes of Tom Clancy's iconic CIA analyst-turned-global hero. According to the article, Raimi has agreed to direct "a series" of Ryan films, to be produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura in association with Josh Donen, Raimi's partner in Buckaroo Entertainment. From the article:

The intention is to generate several films Raimi would develop and direct, featuring Ryan at a younger, more formative point in his career than previously depicted. One invention the studio is considering is to set the film in the present, with the action triggered by a global threat.

The next step, per Variety, is for Paramount to find a writer for the first film's script while Raimi completes Drag Me to Hell. The first of the new Jack Ryan adventures is being targeted for a summer 2010 release.

Clancy's creation made his first trip to theaters portrayed by Alec Baldwin, in 1990's The Hunt for Red October (95 percent on the Tomatometer); the role was taken over by Harrison Ford for 1992's Patriot Games (78 percent) and 1994's Clear and Present Danger (80 percent). Eight years later, Ben Affleck stepped in for The Sum of All Fears (58 percent).

Where all those films might wind up differing from the Raimi-directed installments, apparently, is their source material. According to Variety's report, Clancy is finishing a new Jack Ryan novel -- and since Paramount owns the film rights to the character, the studio has first look -- but "the studio hasn't read it and so hasn't decided if it will use the new book or come up with an original story."

Source: Variety

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(1-20 of 27 posts) | Reply

donwillymo writes:
on Mar 20 2008 05:31 AM

Thank God for these movies b/c I could never spend time reading a friggin novel.

(Reply to this)

donwillymo writes:
on Mar 20 2008 05:46 AM

Oh what!? Now Paul Scofield kicks the bucket! What the f'ck is goin on in Hollywood, must be something in the water. Or the Actor's guild is putting a hit on actors who know the truth! Oh and Shia pleads not guilty to smoking charges he already has one foot in the teen celebrity drug overdose door!

(Reply to this)

Fondude Sixer writes:
on Mar 20 2008 05:59 AM

Um, so where does this leave Spider-Man 4?

(Reply to this)

John Z. Delorean writes:
on Mar 20 2008 06:28 AM

Hopefully it leaves Spider man 4 in the hands of a capable director. Oh no, now all the Evil Dead fanboys are gonna get at me. I'll take The Gift and A Simple Plan and forget his b-movie attempts at horror and action.

(Reply to this)

darth_nevets writes:
on Mar 20 2008 06:58 AM

Why would he consider this? The Hobbit may have been a step down, this is beyond stupefying.

(Reply to this)

jeffanderson15 writes:
on Mar 20 2008 07:06 AM

Oh my God! Why don't they just make 'Debt of Honor' into the next Jack Ryan film? Or while they are at it making a Splinter Cell movie, how about making a movie that is based on a book that Tom Clancy actually wrote...'Rainbow Six!' If they just stick to the source material they would make a ton of money! By the way, both of these books are huge, but go by in seconds b/c of how good they are.

(Reply to this)

jeffanderson15 writes:
on Mar 20 2008 07:07 AM

Oh my God! Why don't they just make 'Debt of Honor' into the next Jack Ryan film? Or while they are at it making a Splinter Cell movie, how about making a movie that is based on a book that Tom Clancy actually wrote...'Rainbow Six!' If they just stick to the source material they would make a ton of money! By the way, both of these books are huge, but go by in seconds b/c of how good they are.

(Reply to this)

Shatter24 writes:
on Mar 20 2008 07:42 AM

Debt of Honor was a very good book, and it could work w/ an older Harrison Ford.

And enough with the Raimi bashing, this guy is a very good director, and I have enjoyed every one of his flicks. Just cause you don't like him, doesn't make him a hack.

(Reply to this)

donwillymo writes:
on Mar 20 2008 07:56 AM

eh...I think I liked Gigli.

(Reply to this)

Bruce Campbell writes:
on Mar 20 2008 08:23 AM

In reply to this comment (#1643359)
What is wrong with you?

(Reply to this)

arendr writes:
on Mar 20 2008 08:43 AM

I think Raimi is an odd choice for these movies. But I guess we shall see. I'm not a big fan of his, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt here.

I think Ryan Gosling would make a great young Jack Ryan.

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Astr0creep writes:
on Mar 20 2008 08:55 AM

They should bring Splinter Cell to the big screen first instead.

(Reply to this)

matt878 writes:
on Mar 20 2008 08:59 AM

One question...Where's the "Rainbow Six" movie? I much rather see that than another Jack Ryan movie.

(Reply to this)

alsanali writes:
on Mar 20 2008 09:37 AM

Somehow I feel that a Debt of Honor or Executive Orders movie won't be coming any time soon since they end/begin with a plane crashing into the Capitol.

(Reply to this)

whiskeyriver writes:
on Mar 20 2008 09:43 AM

Donwillymo forgot to take his meds today.

(Reply to this)

minderbinder writes:
on Mar 20 2008 11:37 AM

"Donwillymo forgot to take his meds today."

What do you mean today? Every post I've ever seen from the guy seems to be an off topic pointless rant with some swearing thrown in. Are there actually any moderators on these boards, or does all the garbage stay up no matter what?

(Reply to this)

optic_85 writes:
on Mar 20 2008 01:01 PM

yay....another relaunch of an established character......sweet?

(Reply to this)

donwillymo writes:
on Mar 20 2008 01:03 PM

Hey MinderBinder another fan of mine. Thanks for your support. Without you guys I'd just be another boring poster. I'd just like to thank my mother and father for supporting me...MinderBinder and whiskeyriver for following my progress they're like sisters to me. And thank you to the academy. You like me you really like me! (slips a bit as he walks off stage)

(Reply to this)

minderbinder writes:
on Mar 20 2008 01:15 PM

And if THAT doesn't prove my point for me...

(Reply to this)

rt_hire_me writes:
on Mar 20 2008 03:13 PM

Thanks, dw. Way to kill another thread.

(Reply to this)