Kenneth Branagh and Chris Pine Bring Liverpool's Strand to Standstill With Dramatic Car Chase Filming

Liverpool Echo, 19 September 2012                 See the photo
By Gemma Jaleel

The Hollywood touch transformed parts of Liverpool last night as Kenneth Branagh and Chris Pine began another night of film shoots for new blockbuster 'Jack Ryan'.

Production company August Street Films Ltd, based at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, were filming car chase sequences for the movie based on the Tom Clancy spy novels.

The city was transformed into an international backdrop for the fast-paced spy movie Jack Ryan. With New York Police Department cars and Russian shop frontage and street signs, the city took on a definite international feel.

Directed by Branagh and featuring 'Pride and Prejudice' star Keira Knightley, the film will see 'Star Trek' actor Chris Pine reprise the role of CIA agent Jack Ryan. The role was previously played on the big screen by Ben Affleck, Alec Baldwin and Harrison Ford.

Pine was seen taking directions from Branagh yesterday evening as the second night of filming got under way.

Knightley will play Cathy Ryan, Pine’s love interest, in the Paramount Pictures production thought to be the first in a trilogy. The 'Pirates of the Caribbean' star was spotted in the Liverpool on Monday, although the ECHO understands she is no longer in the city.

Kevin Costner is also set for a role in the film, alongside Branagh who will star as a villain.

Last night roads around the commercial district were shut down causing some diversions on city bus routes. People gathered behind the cordons to catch a glimpse of the action.

The Strand was also closed in the early hours of this morning for more car chase scenes.

The character of Jack Ryan has hit the cinemas before in films 'The Hunt For Red October', 'Patriot Games', 'Clear And Present Danger' and most recently in 2002 in 'The Sum Of All Fears'. The latest offering has been written as a pre-quel and will show Ryan before he joined the CIA.


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