No, this isn't a Tom Clancy movie Harrison Ford decided not to make, but it sure sounds like one. Picked up by Paramount in the spring of 2010, it looks like there is some movement happening on "Patriot Down," and one of the biggest stars in town is getting a call.
In Variety's profile of Kevin Walsh, who is producing the project alongside Brad Weston, it reveals that an offer is out to Tom Hanks to take on the leading role. Penned by Ian Stone (Steven Spielberg's longtime second assistant director on films like "War of the Worlds," "Munich," "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" and "The Adventures of Tintin"), the thriller centers on a U.S. president on board Air Force One when it gets shot down over Afghanistan, and of course, he has to go on the run.
While audiences were pretty cool on "Larry Crowne" this summer, there is no doubt that when Hanks puts on his hero face, the crowds come out in droves. Of course, at any given moment, Hanks is circling/developing/being offered any number of projects so who knows if this will pan out. However, if he does take it on he will probably will have a strong say in which director eventually comes aboard. This is just an offer, so who knows where it will go, but if you're gonna start swinging, best to aim for the fences.