If you’re a fan of Vince Flynn’s Mitch Rapp series, this is the news we’ve been waiting for! While it’s still unconfirmed by CBS Films, Deadline is reporting that Dylan O’Brien is currently in negotiations to play Rapp in the film adaption of Flynn’s American Assassin.
American Assassin is the first novel in the Mitch Rapp series and introduces readers to a twenty-three-year-old Rapp who is recruited fresh out of college by the CIA to join their covert terrorist-hunting unit, the Orion Team. The story details Rapp’s training, done at the hands of a CIA lifer and Cold War spy named Stan Hurley–and his first mission for the Central Intelligence Agency.
It’s unknown at this time how closely the movie will follow the book. In fact, all we knew prior to this morning was that Michael Keaton has already been signed to play Stan Hurley. So Deadline’s report that Dylan O’Brien, who is best known for playing the starring role in the Maze Runner movies, is in talks to play Mitch will surely send shock waves through the Rapp fan base.
Deadline also reported that CBS Films will work around O’Brien’s recovery–the actor was recently injured on the set of Maze Runner: The Death Cure, which made headlines back in March.
My Thoughts
It’s no secret that CBS Films has actively been searching for the perfect young actor to Mitch Rapp, and it looks like they found their guy. Many in the business have viewed playing Rapp as a career-making role for whichever young actor lands the part. Finding someone young was important, with the idea that they can sign on long-term and really grow into the role.
In Dylan O’Brien, CBS Films is getting an established actor who is just twenty-four. He absolutely has the right look and features to play Mitch, though I expect we’ll be seeing photos of him hitting up the gym very soon!
Personally, I love the casting–if a deal does indeed get done.
With O’Brien as Rapp and Keaton set to play Hurley, the next big role to cast is that of Irene Kennedy–Rapp’s handler at the CIA. So stay tuned for more information and, in the meantime, check out Deadlines report here.
mitchrappfan.com 
Thanks for keeping us updated so well, Ryan!!
I don’t know Dylan O’Brien, but as long as he can hit the weights and turn on the badass, then I figure he’ll do well.
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I know I just wrote a post but I had a thought… I hope they do not mess with this character like they did with Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan Character. They made movies from the books out of order and used Ben Afflec, Harrison Ford and Alex Baldwin to play him. I liked the movies they made but I didn’t like the switch up of the characters being changed like that. The movies taken individually were good but knowing and loving Jack Ryan and having him be different each time was bad. If they choose an actor to start at the beginning and keep using him like they have done with Jason Bourne it would be much better. IMHO. ; )
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I don’t know that an actor can ever be who we believe them to be in our own mind. But this kid does have the look and he was quite good in the Maze movie. He has the basics if they can mold him into the deadly Mitch Rapp we have come to know and love.
I am still hoping Keaton can bring off the Hurley character… I am kind of worried about that. I like Keaton I just never thought of him as the tough guy spy character from the book. But he is an actor and that is his job… To make us believe it.
Now we wait for Irene… I am hoping they can do this because it would make a great movie series. Maybe not Jason Bourne good but you never know. Fingers crossed…. I am excited by this premise and am waiting with eager anticipation!
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Miss Janet said it well when she stated “I don’t know that an actor can ever be who we believe them to be in our own mind.”
I believe they did well by choosing Dylan O’Brien. I was worried about their casting choice especially when reading some of the other choices that were being thrown out there. He certainly has the look. He is a good actor. I hope he understands how many people out there will be putting him under a microscope. (I for one will be one of those people) I hope he is the type of actor who will do his due research. Fingers crossed.
Keaton was a surprise to me. But he is an amazing actor. In my mind, and it seems in the mind of many others from different blogs, that part would be played well by actor Muse Watson, who played Mike Franks, mentor and friend to Gibbs. He already has ALL the traits of Hurley.
Whomever they choose for the part of Irene, needs to have the ultimate on screen chemistry with O’Brien. We all know how deep that relationship is, lets hope they pull it off.
I would like to see Alan Alda play the part of Stansfield. I believe that character is about the right temperment. Which I think Alda has for that part. Best of luck To all involved!
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