Stars Of 'Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit' Scrub Up For Los Angeles Premiere [Pictures]

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit will look to once again draw audiences in to see Tom Clancy's most famous literary creation take on the terrorist world for the sake of American freedom. The fifth Jack Ryan film to date, the cast and crew of the spy title gathered at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles for the film's premiere on Wednesday, 15 January, scrubbing up nicely for the glitzy event.

Stars Chris Pine and Keira Knightley were the main attractions at the Los Angeles premiere

Director Kenneth Branagh, screenwriter Hossein Amini and hands on producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura have brought Ryan wilfully into the modern age with Shadow Recruit and as you could probably tell from the casting of Chris Pine as the titular Ryan, the film incorporates a younger cast for a franchise enabling launchpad of a movie. Pine rolled up to the premiere of the film looking sharp in a black, tie-less suit and sporting a cheeky bit of stubble, strolling down the red carpet to pose for photos with fans and answer some questions. Before the premiere, the actor and some of his film associates were on hand to discuss the film and its possible direction at a Paramount press conference (via Cinema Blend).

See all of our pictures from the Jack Ryan L.A. premiere

"Obviously this is a corporate world that we live in, and this in a business," Pine said in reference to whether Shadow Recruit was the start of a new franchise. The actor, already a star of one franchise: playing Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek reboots, went on to say, "We hope that people come to see [the first movie]. I would love to do another one. We’re in a really interesting time to do spy franchises, in 2014. … I think, right now, with all the activity in the world, the grey morality of politics and spies, there’s a fertile ground to provide [us] with new stories."

Co-producer Llorenzo Di Bonaventura had a big say in how the film looked

The film certainly leaves room for more to follow and Pine's on screen wife, played by Keira Knightley, is also accustomed to the world of movie franchises thanks to her work on the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. The British actress looked glamorous in her navy and white trim dress and will no doubt bring her effortless grace and attraction to the screen when the film is released on 17 January, and on 24 January in the UK.

Knightley might be on board for more films

Next Page: More pictures and more word from those behind the film

Kevin Costner and his wife Christine Baumgartner attended the premiere together, with Costner seeing parallels in this film with one of his most famous titles, _The Untouchable_s. At the same press conference, the Academy Award winner admitted that in his 90's heyday he would have definitely consider the role of Jack Ryan - played by Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck over the years - had it been offered to him, but he is happy to assume a role he compared to Sean Connery's in the prohibition-era gangster film.

Costner and his wife Christine Christine Baumgartner attended the premiere together

"Smarter directors will do this from time to time. They’ll have a supporting role, and they’ll put a leading man in it, because they either know how to inhabit the screen," Costner said at the press conference. "Nowhere was this better than when Sean Connery came in and played the little Irish street cop. And you realized how formidable he was. I remember saying to Sean, ‘You know, this has got enough meat on the bone. You really could win the Academy Award.’ And Brian [De Palma] could have gone with any character actor to fill that part with an Irish brogue, and he said, ‘No, we’re going to go with arguably the biggest star – the biggest star I’ve ever worked with in my life – to play this."

Critics offered a mixed consensus of the film

Producer Mace Neufeld would have wanted to get in the biggest stars he could for the film and whilst it can still be debated whether or not Costner can still be considered a huge actor, as long as Costner's appearance helps sell tickets he will be satisfied.

Mace Neufeld didn't want to hire Costner until now

Neufeld has produced every Ryan film to date, from The Hunt For Red October to The Sum of All Fears and now Shadow Recruit, and should the film heed a few sequels and turn into a franchise, which it is more than likely going to do, you can expect to see Mace's name attached to each project. He said at the press conference for the film that Ryan has retained his all-American, boy scout charm for an outing that will hopefully wield success.

Check out the trailer for Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

"He’s referred to in Clear and Present Danger, disparagingly, as a ‘boy scout.’ But those qualities that a boy scout is supposed to have appeal to an audience," Neufeld said at the conference. "Jack is really smart. He has to jump to his own conclusions. He’s somebody who you would like to have as a friend, or even a neighbor. Because you know that if your house ever were to catch on fire and you had to throw your baby out of the top window, you know that Jack would be there to catch them."

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit opens in cinemas on 17 January in the US and 24 Jan. in the UK.

Will Pine make a good Ryan?