3 August, 2000

Sum of All Fears

Ben Affleck is Jack Ryan. Huh? That's right, Affleck has signed on the dotted line to take over the role vacated by Harrison Ford. CIA agent Ryan was previously played on screen by the considerably older Alec Baldwin (Hunt for Red October) and Ford (Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger), which makes this casting more than a bit mystifying in my eyes. Ford was contracted to due another Ryan film but balked at the script so Paramount got a different face to play the part. The script, to be directed by Phil Noyce, is by Akiva Goldsman (Batman and Robin) and Paul Attanasio (Sphere).

Affleck is also in talks to star in Cinderella Man. He would play a man who takes up boxing during the Great Depression to feed his family. Billy Bob Thornton is in talks to direct. Universal bought the pitch by Cliff Hollingsworth based on a real person, and had it written by Charlie Mitchell.

Affleck, currently filming Pearl Harbor would first shoot Sum of All Fears, possibly this fall, before moving on to Cinderella Man.

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