John Krasinski To Lead Jack Ryan Amazon Series
The Office star gets a promotion to the CIA.
In another world, John Krasinski would be headlining what is sure to be the biggest film of the year - Captain America: Civil War. Way back when casting was under-way for the first Cap movie, The Office star was said to be in the final reckoning to play the first avenger before Chris Evans ultimately pipped him to the shield and spandex.
Several years on and Krasinski has finally locked in a franchise role, though one that will keep him as a small screen TV star,rather than a big screen lead.
Deadline reports that Krasinski will lead Amazon's new series based on Tom Clancy's popular hero - CIA operative Jack Ryan, who has previously been the vehicle for five high-profile movies starring Harrison Ford, Alec Baldwin, Ben Affleck and most recently, Chris Pine.
The currently untitled series promises "a new take" from the films, portraying Ryan "in his prime" as a CIA analyst and skipping any kind of origin story.
Former Lost writers Carlton Cuse and Graham Roland are tasked with scripting the Amazon show which will follow new stories but will also borrow from the books and also from Clancy's own bibliography to extend the saga to a series.
The last time we saw Ryan was 2014's big screen effort Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit that opened to middling reviews and made virtually no impact on the zeitgeist, earning just $50 million domestic from a $60 million budget.
Chris Pine struggled to carry the tentpole on his shoulders and with no sequel being desirable, became the latest actor Hollywood failed to leave an indelible stamp on the character which found its peak with the Harrison Ford movies Clear And Present Danger and Patriot Games in the early 90s.
Amazon Studios have a series commitment to bring Ryan to the screen that now looks a lock with Krasinski on board. Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes are involved as producers which is the trail that led to Krasinski, who back in January starred in his first action role,for Bay's 13 Hours.