New Jack Ryan movie moves forward

In spite of the fact that The Sum Of All Fears proved to be a sizeable hit, the latest reboot of the Jack Ryan cinematic saga (which has also taken in The Hunt For Red October, Patriot Games and Clear And Present Danger) landed at just the time that Ben Affleck’s star started to fall. As such, after many years of inactivity, it became clear that a further reboot and recasting was on the cards.

Paramount is pressing ahead with its plans for a fresh Jack Ryan movie along those lines, under the working title of Moscow. It’s already announced that it’s signed up Chris Pine – last seen as Captain Kirk in the Star Trek reboot movie – to play the title role. JJ Abrams, who directed said Star Trek flick, is down to product.

And it now seems, according to Variety, that the film has found a director. Jack Bender, who directed most of the key episodes of Lost (including the ponderous finale) is apparently in talks. And once a director, star and producer are on board, then it’s usually not long until production begins.

Pine is first set to shoot the next Star Trek movie, which goes into production early next year, but by our guesses should be free to commence work as Jack Ryan (unless it can be rushed through for this autumn) in around a year’s time. Watch this space…