Kevin Costner is slowly making his comeback (and, in this writer’s opinion, it’s news to celebrate). He’ll soon be appearing in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, which will propel him back into the limelight. Alongside the Superman reboot, he’ll appear in another reboot - the long-awaited Tom Clancy / Jack Ryan revival starring Chris “Captain Kirk” Pine and directed by Sir Kenneth Branagh. His role in Jack Ryan has also been stated as just the beginning for his mentor character, William Harper. After the Chris Pine pair-up, Costner will move on to a spinoff called Without Remorse. The follow-up with Costner’s character will be directed by Christopher McQuarrie (the writer of The Usual Suspects and the director of new Tom Cruise movie, Jack Reacher) which at the moment has only Costner signed up for. Rumours are spreading that Tom Hardy will join Without Remorse but it’s still very early days to know of any additional casting.
The description of the Harper character is continually being compared to Nick Fury of the Marvel universe – a powerful cog in the workings of an organisation. This comparison has furthered the idea that Costner will eventually get his own movie.
However this plays out, Costner is finally making his way back onto the big screen and in highly commercial and appealing features. Costner is no stranger to these types of films (though lets ignore Waterworld) or the casts that make the spectacle. JFK’s star-studded ensemble helped the film dramatically – powerhouse performances alongside a terrific script. For the new Jack Ryan movie, Costner will similarly be part of a grand cast with Branagh as the villain, Keira Knightley as the love interest and James Earl Jones possibly reprising his role as Admiral Greer. Costner is taking smart steps to find a new audience, enhancing his filmography and what will be a terrific legacy.
