Last time I was writing about Paramount’s reboot of the Jack Ryan character –which will theoretically be directed by Jack Bender and star Chris Pine– it was because the studio had hired Anthony Peckham to draft a new script replacing the original from Adam Cozad. It seemed a sign that the studio was serious about giving their rebooted franchise a good footing on which to start. If that was the case, then apparently the studio is really fucking serious about giving the franchise a good footing.
Apparently Peckham’s draft didn’t cut it either –assuming he finished it or there weren’t other shenanigans at work– as the studio is hiring yet another scribe to have a go at Clancy’s most famous character. The problem is, the studio is running out of time before Pine gets snatched up by the schedule of Star Trek 2, so they can’t really delay any farther than the spring date they’ve set-up to replace the original March start date. Zaillian is no joke though, having written Schindler’s List, Mission: Impossible, Gangs of New York, American Gangster, and Fincher’s next, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. This is a very high profile screenwriter hired to crack a script that is apparently a large concern for Paramount. It would seem he does not come cheap, if this comment from THR‘s source means anything-
“If they’re spending the money for this guy, they’re making the movie.”
If this really will be the third (at minimum) version of this reboot script, then at least that suggests someone at Paramount gives a shit what foot this franchise gets restarted on, and that they’re willing to pay for it to be done right. Of course, it’s not uncommon for a blockbuster of this size to have half-a-dozen cooks in the scriptural kitchen (credited, uncredited, or otherwise), but as of late there’s been just as strong of a studio instinct to go to production with whatever script is available, ready or not, if there’s a date that must be met. Three cheers for reading the script for the movie you’re going to make before rolling cameras!
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