There are reports suggesting that Harrison Ford is returning to the big screen to portray Tom Clancy’s government agent protagonist, Jack Ryan. If so, it shows that Ford, at 80, is showing no signs of slowing down. As it is said, ‘age is but a number.’ The seasoned actor has a lengthy portfolio of acting credits to his name and showcases a handful of IPs in which he starred or co-starred.
Starting his career back in the 1960s with entry roles, even minor behind-the-scenes jobs, it was during the 70s when his star began to shine so brightly. It’s no secret that George Lucas found his talent as an actor remarkable. Having worked with the filmmaker even before Star Wars in 1973 American Graffiti, it was Ford’s performance in that film that led Lucas to allow him a reading audition for his space opera. The rest is history.
After Star Wars, it was also George Lucas’ Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981 that sealed Ford’s fate as among the most popular and iconic actors in Hollywood.
Rotten Tomatoes ranks Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark as #1 in Harrison Ford’s top-rated movies of all time. They were followed by the 1993 action thriller film The Fugitive. The third spot went to Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, the fourth went to Star Wars Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi and the fifth went to Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.
Two previous Tom Clancy novel movies ranked as his 15th and 20th best in the list. These may also change after the upcoming three titles to his acting credit, which are Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Captain America: New World Order and Thunderbolts.
Any movie buff would know that Ford has been well known for his roles as Han Solo in the Star Wars franchise, the titular role of Indiana Jones in the eponymous franchise, Deckard in Blade Runner and Jack Ryan in two of Tom Clancy novel-based films.
Harrison Ford Could Once Again Be Jack Ryan
READ MORE: Jack Ryan Season 4: Everything We Know So Far
We can’t say that we are surprised to learn what Giant Freakin Robot recently reported. Harrison Ford hasn’t exactly slowed down in the industry. Just checking his IMDb, there is always something that he has been serving up throughout the years. Thus, the rumour about him reprising Jack Ryan in an adaptation of Tom Clancy’s Debt of Honor did not surprise us at all.
It did, however, get us excited and wondering how they were going to do it. Perhaps it is just that it’s more prominent or noticeable now because of his return to the Indiana Jones franchise. Although Indy 5 is reportedly his last, he has upcoming projects with Marvel Studios as its new Thunderbolt Ross. His possible return to being Jack Ryan isn’t anything new to the actor.
He has also reprised his Deckard in 2017’s Blade Runner 2049. And, of course, his return as Han Solo in Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens got him the story arc for the character that he initially wished to have when they were doing Return of the Jedi.
Harrison Ford first portrayed the former CIA agent Jack Ryan in the 1992 movie adaptation of the novel Patriot Games. The movie took the 20th rank on the list. Directed by Phillip Noyce, the movie was actually a sequel to the 1990 movie The Hunt for Red October which was directed by John McTiernan and starred Alec Baldwin.
Ford returned to the franchise with the same director, Noyce, for their second movie, Clear and Present Danger, in 1994. This one was more successful in its reception with a score of 80% Certified Fresh at the Tomatometer. It ranked 15th in Harrison’s Top 40.
Of all the 5 Jack Ryan movies, his 1994 film tops in the box office performance generating $207.5M from a $62M production budget. Also, he is the only actor to have portrayed the role on the big screen in two consecutive adaptations.
However, it is Alec Baldwin’s 1990 movie that got the highest critics’ rating among the five movies. Movieweb stated that
the film seethes with high-tech excitement and sweats with the tension of men who hold Doomsday in their hands… …a rare case where the film is on par with the original source material — Tom Clancy’s epic novel.
Harrison Ford Might Reprise His Role As Jack Ryan
Credit: Paramount Pictures
READ MORE: Harrison Ford Reportedly Joining MCU Armor Wars Movie
After Ben Affleck and Chris Pine took on the role, John Krasinski now has it for the small screen. Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, the series already has three seasons, with reports saying that it will end in Season 4.
If Harrison Ford’s return as Jack Ryan for an adaptation of Tom Clancy’s Debt of Honor is true, then fans will once again see the actor transform into the ex-CIA agent who is now the new US President’s National Security Advisor.
What do you think of Harrison Ford returning to his role as Jack Ryan? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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This is the movie I’ve been waiting over 30 years to be made…with Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan