John Krasinski: White Hot
The Quiet Place Director Plays Jack Ryan
Back in the day, John Krasinski was the charming romantic heartthrob of NBC’s The Office, wooing Pam with his charismatic candor and rapid-fire witticisms. He was the boy next door, with a scruffy haircut, dreamy eyes, and an admirable loyalty to his lady. A few years later, Krasinski popped up in the Michael Bay action/war movie, 13 Hours, in which he played a hunky ex-Navy Seal, complete with a bushy beard, massive arms, and ripped abs. Most recently, audiences fell in love with Krasinski all over again in A Quiet Place, a Spielbergian tale of monster horror in which he plays a devoted father and husband who will do whatever it takes to protect his family from the creatures who stalk the last remnants of humanity. He starred, directed, and co-wrote the film, which became an unexpected box office smash, grossing $331 million off a budget of just $17 million.
Is there anything Krasinski can’t do? He’s every kind of sexy, from adorkable to musclebound. His latest project looks like it’s aiming to be the perfect mix of our two favorite flavors of Krasinski.
Amazon‘s Jack Ryan is based on the character created by late author Tom Clancy. Ryan had previously appeared in several movies, played by Hollywood actors Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck, and Chris Pine, though the new series isn’t directly related to any of the previous Jack Ryan stories. Instead (like the Ben Affleck and Chris Pine films), this new story is a reboot, telling a new origin story to one of Tom Claincy’s most iconic characters.
The character of Jack Ryan is a CIA analyst who gets himself involved in an international hunt for an infamous terrorist leader. He’s brave, but not as tough as your typical Hollywood action hero. He’s just a guy who believes in justice and will do whatever he can to make sure the bad guys don’t get their way, and it feels like it could be the perfect role for Krasinski. Abbie Cornish plays Cathy, Jack’s fiancee, so the series won’t be all military jargon and high-octane thrills; there will be an emotional, romantic center which drives the characters forward.
Jack Ryan, an eight-episode miniseries, debuts on Amazon Prime on August 31. Amazon certainly has faith in the series, and has already renewed it for a second season.
