Work on Amazon's new show Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan is moving right along, as the drama has just cast a star known for some classic movies. Word came down today that legendary actor Peter Fonda will be joining the cast in a role that could lead to him appearing on the series on a recurring basis.
Peter Fonda has signed on for a guest starring role in Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan in a key part that will see him playing the father to Abbie Cornish's character, Cathy Mueller. According to Deadline, it's not known yet whether he'll appear in more than one episode. That will be determined by how the storyline develops for Cathy over the course of the 10-episode season, as she is expected to be the main love interest for John Krasinski's Jack Ryan. The thought is that the more important Cathy becomes to Jack's life, the more opportunities there may be for Fonda to appear as her dad. Right now, we only know that Fonda will, absolutely, play the role in the opening episode, which will be directed by Morten Tyldum, the Oscar nominated director of The Imitation Game.
Peter Fonda is, of course, part of the acting dynasty that includes his father Henry Fonda, sister Jane Fonda and daughter Bridget Fonda. He began his screen career in the early 1960s with parts in TV shows like Naked City, Wagon Train and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, and then went on to become known for his work in films. Fonda is best remembered for his role as Wyatt in the 1969 classic Easy Rider, but he's also made his mark in Dirty Mary Crazy Larry, Race with the Devil, The Cannonball Run, Escape from L.A., Ghost Rider, 3:10 to Yuma and Ulee's Gold, which saw him nominated for a Best Actor Oscar. The past 10 years have seen him make a return to television series, with appearances on ER, CSI: NY, Hawaii Five-0 and The Blacklist.
Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan was ordered straight to series by Amazon about a year ago, and the show is being billed as a modern reimagining of the well-loved Tom Clancy character. The show will follow the early work of the hero as he works as an up and coming analyst at the CIA who discovers a pattern in terrorist communications that force him to take a dangerous field assignment for the first time. It certainly sounds like the show will be staying true to the roots of the character that were established, first in Tom Clancy's books, and later in a string of movies.
We don't yet know when Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan will hit Amazon, but we'll keep you posted on all new information on the show as it becomes available. Be sure to check out our midseason premiere schedule to see what you can catch on TV in the coming weeks.
