Defeating Evangeline Lilly and Felicity Jones, the 'Anna Karenina' actress is in talks to be Chris Pine's leading lady in the anticipated novel-adapted movie.
- Aug 11, 2012
AceShowbiz - Kenneth Branagh's upcoming "Jack Ryan" movie is close to find its female lead. The Hollywood Reporter has shared that Keira Knightley is currently in talks to tackle the leading lady of Chris Pine's titular character.
Knightley has beaten a number of Hollywood beauties who auditioned for the same part. They included "Real Steel" actress Evangeline Lilly and "Like Crazy" star Felicity Jones.
Should the "Pirates of the Caribbean" actress seal the deal with Paramount Pictures, she will make her first collaboration with Branagh, who also takes a supporting role in the untitled Jack Ryan project. Though they often work in a number of British period dramas, they have never worked together before.
Serving as a prequel to Tom Clancy's "Jack Ryan" novel series, the forthcoming film follows Pine's titular character who is a Moscow-based financial analyst. One day, he discovers a plan in his company to back a terrorist attack which aims to destroy the U.S. economy. Racing against time, Ryan must save the states and his wife (Knightley).
The "Jack Ryan" project has long been put on a hold reportedly due to creative differences between Paramount execs, lead actor Pine and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura. Making sure that the project would kick off production soon, Branagh recently stated, "We start shooting in the beginning of September, and we'll be shooting through until Christmas."
As for Knightley, the London-born actress will next be seen starring opposite Jude Law in period drama "Anna Karenina". Her other upcoming movie projects include "The Emperor's Children" which also stars Eric Bana and Richard Gere, and "Can a Song Save Your Life?" which also stars Mark Ruffalo and Adam Levine.
