Taylor Sheridan’s Without Remorse Failed to Launch a Tom Clancy Universe

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Michael B. Jordan is now a major Hollywood star, particularly after winning an Oscar for his role in Sinners. However, not all of his films have been hits. While Without Remorse gave him a part in a Tom Clancy adaptation intended to launch a new film series, the planned sequel has largely been forgotten by audiences.

In January 2023, Michael B. Jordan was set to return as John Clark, the Navy SEAL he first played in the 2021 film Without Remorse. That film was meant to launch a new action franchise. With John Wick director Chad Stahelski involved, it seemed likely a Rainbow Six movie, based on the Tom Clancy novels and video games, would happen soon. However, as of early 2026, the project’s future is uncertain, and it’s unclear if the Rainbow Six film, or a larger Tom Clancy movie universe, will ever be made.

Without Remorse Landed With a Thud Upon Release in 2021

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, the iconic CIA analyst, has been a popular figure in film and television for years. He was first portrayed by Alec Baldwin in a well-received movie, then Harrison Ford took on the role in two action-packed films, Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger. Ben Affleck later played Ryan in The Sum of All Fears, and Chris Pine starred in the 2014 reboot, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, which wasn’t successful. Despite that setback, the character returned in 2018 with John Krasinski in the lead role for the Prime Video series Jack Ryan, which proved to be a hit and ran for four seasons, with a final movie still to come.

Tom Clancy created a connected universe through his 14 novels, often called the “Ryanverse,” featuring a wide cast of memorable characters. Among them was Jack Ryan’s counterpart, John Clark – a tough, former Navy SEAL who became a skilled CIA operative. Fans were drawn to Clark because he represented a more ruthless side that contrasted with Ryan’s more principled approach. Initially appearing in three Ryan novels, Clark proved so popular that Clancy gave him his own standalone book in 1993. This further boosted Clark’s popularity, leading to appearances in the films Clear and Present Danger and The Sum of All Fears, portrayed by Willem Dafoe and Liev Schreiber, respectively.

It’s strange that Willem Dafoe and Liev Schreiber, who both played the character on film, weren’t considered for the lead role in the Without Remorse movie. Several actors, including Laurence Fishburne, Gary Sinise, and Tom Hardy, were approached first. Ultimately, it wasn’t until 2018 that Michael B. Jordan was cast. The director of Sicario: Day of the Soldado, Stefano Sollima, was then brought on board, and Taylor Sheridan—a highly sought-after screenwriter—was hired to revise an existing script. This initially suggested Paramount Pictures had high hopes for the film. However, when it was finally released in 2021 directly to streaming and received mostly average reviews, it became clear that the project hadn’t gone as planned.

Sheridan Wrote a Typically Muscular Script, But His Attempt to Modernize Clancy Fell Flat

Tom Clancy’s novels are known for their thrilling plots involving international conflicts, cutting-edge technology, and spy work, and Without Remorse was no exception. The story combined elements of romance, a quest for revenge, Cold War tensions with the Soviet Union, and the American drug crisis of the 1970s. While adapting the story for a modern movie required some updates, the resulting film version of Without Remorse, as envisioned by director Sheridan, felt somewhat simplistic and lacked depth.

The film is a classic action thriller where Clark hunts down the Russian assassins who killed his team and his wife, who was an innocent bystander. His quest for revenge uncovers a bizarre conspiracy led by a corrupt Secretary of Defense (played by Guy Pearce) who is trying to start a war between the U.S. and Russia for profit. However, the story feels predictable and lacks originality.

Despite featuring impressive action and gritty visuals, the film Without Remorse, starring Tom Clancy’s Clark, ultimately falls flat due to a predictable and unoriginal story. While it delivers on action, swapping the detailed, realistic tactics fans expect for a standard revenge plot proved to be a misstep.

Sheridan is a talented writer, and his work often tackles complex issues in contemporary America. However, his adaptation of Without Remorse felt overly simplified. By removing the intricate political elements of the original novel, the story lost what made it special. Even more concerning, making the film too easily digestible for viewers constantly distracted by their phones might have unintentionally harmed the potential for a larger, connected cinematic universe that was initially envisioned.

Sheridan Was a Bad Fit For Clancy, and That Meant Doom for the Cinematic Universe

Despite hoping for a strong critical and commercial success to launch a potential Rainbow Six series, Without Remorse ultimately fell short. Tom Clancy adaptations typically focus on techno-thrillers, but the film’s gritty style, guided by the writer, didn’t quite fit, and the combination of a popular writer and star didn’t guarantee a hit. The movie ended up being neither a critical nor audience favorite. Its release on streaming due to the COVID-19 pandemic further hindered its chances, preventing it from gaining the momentum needed for a franchise. Even with a theatrical release, the film likely would have struggled, as it simply didn’t deliver what audiences expected.

Chad Stahelski revealed in December 2024 that the Rainbow Six movie was still in development. He explained to The Direct that, being a major franchise based on a popular source, they were focused on getting it right. He added with a smile that they were taking their time, exploring lots of good ideas, and doing solid development work. It remains to be seen if Jordan will reprise his role in the Tom Clancy universe.

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2026-03-20 06:40