Star Trek’s Chris Pine to play cold-war hero Jack Ryan

[HMG Celebrity News] – Having created hit movies for Matt Damon, Robert Downey and Gary Oldman, screenwriter Anthony Peckham has now been tapped to write Star Trek actor Chris Pine’s next big role as cold-war hero, Jack Ryan.

First created in 1984, the role of Tom Clancy’s intelligence officer / all-action hero has been played by Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck. Now 30-year old Chris will play Jack in Paramount’s re-boot of the franchise.

And to increase the pedigree still further, ‘Lost’s director, Jack Bender will be in charge of the film.

The movie has no title as yet, but the plan is to tell the story of Ryan’s early career before the Cold War was over. It will be set in Russia and have terrorist acts as the background story.

And Chris couldn’t wish for a more gifted writer — Anthony wrote the Clint Eastwood-directed ‘Invictus,’ which told the story of Nelson Mandela’s involvement in 1995′s Rugby World Cup. He also wrote ‘Sherlock Holmes,’ which won Robert Downy an Oscar nod and a Golden Globe, and Gary Oldman’s mysterious ‘Book of Eli.’

Invictus earned $122-million, Sherlock Holmes raked in $314-million worldwide, and ‘Eli’ has made Warners $160-million and counting.

So you can see why they signed him.

And Jack Ryan is a wonderful part – His past outings were 1985′s ‘The Hunt for Red October,’ then ‘Patriot Games’ in 1990, ‘Clear and Present Danger’ in ’92, and ‘The Sum of All Fears’ in 1994. And audiences love him – the four films have earned $787-million so far.

THR says the new installment will start shooting late this year or early next. We’ll keep you advised…