The Action Movie Reboot Chris Pine Has Regrets About
Acting, singing, dancing, comedy — Chris Pine is one of those rare Hollywood actors who seems able to do it all. Fans who'd seen him become the young James Kirk in the newer "Star Trek" films were amazed when he belted out Sondheim lyrics next to Billy Magnussen in "Into the Woods," or played a heartbroken spy in "All the Old Knives." The actor told Indiewire that he chooses projects carefully, and lately that means making smaller films: "I've had, thankfully, the luxury of 'yes' and 'no' for 10 years or so really. I think there's a clarity of purpose now that I have with my work and my life."
Pine has also, like many film stars of his generation, appeared in some blockbuster franchises, including "Star Trek" and the DCEU "Wonder Woman" films. Most of these have been sizable box-office hits, but he does have regrets about his lead role in this reboot of a famous action movie series.
Pine agreed with audiences that Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit didn't work
The 2014 Kenneth Branagh film "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit" was an original adventure intended to reboot the CIA analyst character, created by author Tom Clancy, after 2004's "The Sum of All Fears." Chris Pine played a younger, fresh-faced Ryan on his first espionage adventure when he is pitted against Russian oligarch Viktor Cheverin (Branagh). However, the film received mixed reviews (via Metacritic) and, even worse, middling box office (via Box Office Mojo).
Pine told Moviefone as early as late 2014 (via Variety) that Paramount was not likely to approve a second "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit" franchise entry because of the low box office returns. The actor also acknowledged that the movie was not what he'd hoped for: "That's one of my deep regrets, that we didn't totally get that right. It's a great franchise, and if it's not me, then I hope it gets a fifth life at this point."
Pine did ultimately get his wish. Instead of Paramount making a movie sequel, Amazon adapted the Clancy character into a television series starring John Krasinski, produced only a few years after "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit."