Kenneth Branagh is no stranger to directing and playing a character in the same movie. He’s pulled double duty in Hamlet and Henry V. The filmmaker who had replaced Jack Bender as director of the currently untitled upcoming Jack Ryan film will now apparently have a role in it as well.

Branagh will be playing the villain in the movie, starring opposite of Chris Pine, who is attached to play the titular Jack Ryan character.

Branagh will be playing as a financial wiz who aids the Russian government in devaluing the American dollar, which will in turn destroy the U.S. economy. These Jack Ryan movies aren’t known to have dense action sequences and they are considered thrillers more than anything else. The simple plot seems to back that idea up. However, the report mentions something about Ryan having to save his wife. It’s unclear what he has to save her from, but if it’s danger, than this new Jack Ryan film could have some sort of action sequences.

Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura had said that he wants the film to be a straight-up action movie, but Paramount has stated they would like to see a thriller. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on which direction the film goes.

Though Branagh is directing the film, Paramount refused to comment on the casting.

[Source: Showblitz]