Keira Knightley to star in Jack Ryan

Los Angeles - Keira Knightley is in talks to star in Jack Ryan.

The 27-year-old actress will reportedly play the lead female role opposite Star Trek actor Chris Pine in Sir Kenneth Branagh's new chapter of the popular thriller franchise, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Lost actress Evangeline Lilly and Like Crazy's Felicity Jones were auditioned for the part before Kenneth approached Keira, whom Paramount had initially considered.

The film is a prequel to Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan novel series and will see Chris as a Moscow-based financial analyst who must race against time to save America and his beloved wife, played by Keira, from a terrorism plot which threatens financial chaos.

The title role has been played by Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck in the first four films, the last of which was released in 2002.

Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Mace Neufeld and David Barron are on board to produce the prequel and David Ellison has been named as executive producer.

Keira will next be seen in Seeking a Friend for the End of the World with Steve Carell.

The brunette star also stars in 19th century drama Anna Karenina as an aristocrat who enters into a tumultuous affair.

Jack Ryan begins shooting in September.