News > Raimi to Reboot Jack Ryan Franchise

Written by David Morgan

Sam Raimi is in negotiations with Paramount to take over creative control of the Jack Ryan franchise, centering on Tom Clancy's most famous character. Ryan is a CIA analyst who has so far been the protagonist of four major hit movies for Paramount, namely The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, and The Sum of All Fears. Alec Baldwin originated the role in 1990's Red October, but declined to return for the next films, giving Harrison Ford the opportunity to play the aging spook twice. Ben Affleck then played a younger Ryan in 2002's Sum. Currently, none of these actors is being discussed to return.

According to Variety:

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.

Reportedly, Clancy is working on a new Jack Ryan novel, but the studio has yet to see it, and thus hasn't decided whether to use it or to go with an original script. Legally speaking, Paramount owns Jack Ryan and can do whatever they want with him. The studio wants a movie ready for release by summer 2010, which means that Raimi will begin work on this almost as soon as he's done shooting his own horror comedy Drag Me to Hell with Alison Lohman next month.