Sam Raimi in talks to bring Jack Ryan franchise back to life

Paramount Pictures is in talks with director Sam Raimi to get the studio’s Jack Ryan franchise back on track. Sam Raimi - 30 Days of Night Los Angeles Premiere - Grauman's Chinese Theater - Hollywood, CA © David Gabber / PR Photos

Sam Raimi - 30 Days of Night Los Angeles Premiere - Grauman's Chinese Theater - Hollywood, CA © David Gabber / PR PhotosVariety reports Paramount (who has enjoyed a successful track record with the Tom Clancy-created CIA character) is in negotiations with Raimi to develop and direct a series of films that would be produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Buckaroo Entertainment’s Josh Donen.The new franchise would see Raimi working on several of the films – which would focus on a younger Jack Ryan earlier in his career than the past films. The films could be set in the present time with Ryan working on an event caused by a global threat.The studio will hire a writer to work on the new Ryan movie and Raimi could start production on the project after his finishes up his Universal horror film "Drag Me to Hell." The studio is hoping to have the new Jack Ryan film in theaters by the summer of 2010.

Jack Ryan first made his way to film with Alec Baldwin’s performance in 1990's "The Hunt for Red October." Harrison Ford took over the role with 1992's "Patriot Games" and returned to it with 1994's "Clear and Present Danger." The studio then tried the younger Jack Ryan approach with the casting of Ben Affleck in 2002's "The Sum of All Fears." The Jack Ryan franchise has grossed $781.5 million worldwide.Tom Clancy is working on a new Jack Ryan novel, but the studio (which has yet to read the story) has not announced plans to use the new book or create an original story for the new franchise. Paramount has a deal giving it the rights to the Ryan character, and a first look at the new novel.