This particular story has been doing the rounds for some time now - the 'will he, won't he' saga of Tom Clancy's favourite son...the fearless Jack Ryan. A rumour earlier this year had Ryan Gosling down to play the anti-terror crusader in a forthcoming picture but the story was quickly hushed up soon after it leaked on the internet. What is for certain though is that Paramount Pictures have sat down at a very long and very round (possibly?!) table to discuss terms with Sam Raimi. The "Spider-Man" director is in negotiations to spearhead a franchise revival of Jack Ryan.
But wait, this is not your atypical deal whereby Raimi would sit back and throw money at the problem from an Executive Producer's chair. Raimi would in fact be up for directing a series of films in a whole new franchise.
In essence, the franchise would feature a younger, greener, Jack Ryan taking his first steps in the hallowed halls of the CIA. According to initial reports, the franchise may in fact be set in the present day - a departure then from the Jack Ryan of Tom Clancy's canon. Saying that though, Ryan's age has fluctuated widely. Alec Baldwin originated Ryan in 1990's "The Hunt for Red October". Harrison Ford then famously played the character in 1992's "Patriot Games" and 1994's "Clear and Present Danger". Ben Affleck played Ryan in 2002's "The Sum of All Fears" to underwhelming effect.
The green light is burning bright for this one and the first story in this new Jack Ryan franchise will be Raimi's next project after his horror "Drag Me to Hell". Paramount wants the Ryan movie ready for release in summer 2010.