Paramount didn’t have to look far for the villain in its untitled Jack Ryan reboot, as the studio is in negotiations with Kenneth Branagh — who’s also directing the film — to star opposite Chris Pine in the action thriller that aims to reinvigorate the blockbuster franchise.
Paramount had no comment on the casting.
Pine’s Jack Ryan is an ex-Marine who works as a successful financial analyst in Moscow. He discovers a plot by his employer to finance a terrorist attack designed to collapse the U.S. economy, and must race against time to save America and his wife.
Branagh is making a deal to play the Russian villain, who with the help of the local government, masterminds a plot to destroy America’s economy by making the dollar worthless.
Lorenzo di Bonaventura is producing with Mace Neufeld and David Barron. David Ellison, whose Skydance Prods. banner is co-financing the film, will exec produce the pic, which is based on the Jack Ryan character created by author Tom Clancy.
