Twenty-odd years after he passes on the Jack Ryan role in “Red October”, Kevin Costner re-circles the Tom Clancy-created film franchise.

The “Hatfields & McCoys” scene-stealer has nabbed a juicy role in Paramount’s “Jack Ryan”, starring Chris Pine in the title role (the same role Costner would’ve played had he not opted to do “Dances with Wolves”, pathing the way for Alec Baldwin to don the suit, tie and badge of the Langley-boy), but also spin-off pic “Without Remorse”.

Costner would play the role of “William Harper, a true blue American idealist who recruits and mentors both Ryan and John Kelly, the latter of whom becomes the CIA operative Clark by the end of Without Remorse”, in the two films.

“Jack Ryan”, directed by and co-starring Kenneth Branagh, also recently snagged Keira Knightley for a headline role.

“Without Remorse”, which Christopher McQuarrie is rewriting and possibly, maybe, could-be directing, is eyeballing Tom Hardy for the role of John Clark (interestingly enough, when Stuart Beattie was on writing duties – with an eye to direct – he fancied Josh Hartnett for the role). No stone-set deal in place yet though, and it’ll likely depend on just how many, erm, years “Mad Max Fury Road” goes over, schedule-wise.

Deadline, who broke the news of Costner’s anointment into Ryan-ville, says the actor has likely signed a deal like the one Samuel L.Jackson did with Marvel – agreeing to reprise the linchpin character in a series of films connecting the Ryan/Kelly world.

No word yet on whether Costner gets an eye-patch.