So the latest rumors have an upcoming Jack Ryan film in the works with producers circling Ryan Gosling to play the part. But with no contracts signed and lots of strange rumors swirling about the project, lord only knows what could happen. Being something of a Jack Ryan fan, who you'll remember as the hero of the many Tom Clancy novels such as The Hunt For Red October, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger and The Sum of All Fears, I know that this character can't be played by just anybody. Thus far, Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck have all played the part. If Gosling turns it down, who should play the next Jack Ryan?

James Marsden:
The bargain choice. Marsden has been proving for the last year that he is truly leading man material. He's got that whole next-George-Clooney thing going on. After two bit supporting roles in big hits in which everyone walked out talking about him (Hairspray and Enchanted), he further proved he had acting chops by being the best part the crappy movie, 27 Dresses. He's a huge actor waiting for his one big role. And this is perfect. He can play bookish; he can play dashing; and he can make women swoon at 50 paces. He IS Jack Ryan.

Christian Bale:
The expensive choice. Let's face it, Bale is incredible. He's one of the best out there. Sure, he's already got a series of his own (Batman), but hell, Harrison Ford was doing Star Wars movies, Indiana Jones movies and found time to make Blade Runner. All at the same time. The guy is exactly the kind of hero needed for Jack Ryan. He is solid gold already, and would lend confidence and a solid draw to the reinvention of a character. Something he's already proven. He would be Jack Ryan… if they could convince him to do it.

Ryan Reynolds:
The outside choice. Reynolds is incredibly talented. Very funny, great at playing it straight. But he just hasn't found that one perfect role to convince everyone to take him seriously. This would be huge for him and I think he could be fantastic in it. Jack Ryan is sly, witty and infinitely likable. Need I say more? He could be Jack Ryan.

Nathan Fillion:
The left-field choice. Fillion doesn't appear to be on anyone's radar. Despite his cult following (from Firefly) and his strong performance in both Slither and last year's critical darling Waitress, no one seems to be taking him seriously and offering him the roles he deserves. So he keeps ending up in direct-to-video films. That's great and all if you want to be Bruce Campbell, but I sense he has a whole lot more in him. He could be a leading man. If only someone would let him. He might be Jack Ryan.

Timothy Olyphant:
The he-needs-it choice. Olyphant is awesome. Always has been. This talented young guy has always been on the edge of success and always fallen short of getting where he deserves to be. Last year Fox gave him the big high hard one by defanging Live Free or Die Hard (and giving it to a lifeless director) and then cutting the budget on Hitman, reducing it to a laughable excuse for a xXx knockoff. What do you call xXx without Vin Diesel? Much worse. A good looking, confident, incredible actor, He isJack Ryan, if only people could look past his last two missteps.

C. Robert Cargill - - - Email Me

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