It’s been a while since we’ve heard any movement on the Jack Ryan franchise. When we last left it in January, rumors were flying that producers were looking at a younger Jack Ryan, with Ryan Gosling being the favored actor for the role and Sam Raimi in negotiations with Paramount to develop and direct a series of movies with the Tom Clancy character. Remember, however, that all of this movement was without Clancy or the franchise’s long time director Phillip Noyce, basically getting a fresh start on a reboot.

It appears that months-old news may not be quite so correct anymore. This weekend’s big blockbuster may mean a change in approach toward Jack Ryan. If Harrison Ford can dazzle audiences with his whip, he just might be ready to tackle the part of Ryan again as well, at least that’s what we’re being told by an inside source.

From what we’ve been told, the plan was indeed to take Ryan younger, but a successful older Indiana Jones adventure may change that plan. Of course, as of right now Raimi would be expected to have final say, although the news that he was in negotiations is from January and nothing solid ever materialized to tell us the deal was worked out.

So, keep in mind when you see Indiana Jones this weekend that your ticket may have just paved the way for Harrison Ford to return to another role. I have to admit, I kind of like that idea though. For an older Jack Ryan, the filmmakers might be more inclined to stick to Tom Clancy’s source material, as the author has already written several novels as the character has aged. I’m all for sticking to the source novels rather than branching out independently without the creator’s involvement.