Kenneth Branagh to Play Villain in 'Jack Ryan'

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Kenneth Branagh, who is already directing Paramount’s Jack Ryan movie, is in negotiations to play the action thriller’s villain as well, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

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Kenneth Branagh in Negotiations to Direct Jack Ryan Movie

Chris Pine is starring as Ryan, the ex-Marine turned analyst from the Tom Clancy novels. Here, Ryan is a financial analyst living in Moscow who uncovers a terrorist plot.

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Branagh is in negotiations to play the movie’s villain, Viktor Stazov, a financial wiz who, with the help of the Russian government, masterminds a plot to devalue American currency and thus destroy the U.S. economy.

Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Mace Neufeld and David Barron are producing. Skydance’s David Ellison is executive producing.

Branagh last appeared on screen in My Week With Marylin. He is repped by WME.