Domingo “Ding” Chavez has long been a firm favorite with Tom Clancy’s army of fans. As Jack Ryan recently learned, Chavez might well be “the deadliest operator the CIA ever employed.”
Ding’s career in the Clancy universe spans multiple films and books. There have even been numerous video game adaptations. He first appeared on screen alongside Harrison Ford in the 1994 movie Clear and Present Danger. Ford played Jack Ryan in the film, while Raymond Cruz took on the role of Ding.
Chavez proved a popular character and made return appearances in the Clancy novels, including The Sum of All Fears, Debt of Honor, Executive Orders, and Rainbow Six. Fans could even take on the role of Chavez as part of a diverse team of operatives in the 1998 tactical shooter Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six, which spawned a well-loved franchise that continues to this day.
As one of the key team leaders, Chavez had immense combat and leadership skills. In a game where players could pick their squads from a pool of candidates, Chavez was usually the go-to operative for the most dangerous, time-critical missions.
But does joining the series spell an on-screen future for Chavez?
Will Michael Peña’s Ding Chavez star in a spin-off series?
In the latest season of Jack Ryan from Prime Video, Jack is impressed by Chavez’s experience and skill set. Played expertly by veteran TV and film actor Michael Peña, Chavez is set to appear in every episode of season 4. Though nothing has been officially confirmed, Deadline teased the possibility of a Chavez spin-off series last year, and more recently, Peña himself expressed interest in the project.
“It’s up to the fans and up to Amazon… if people like it, maybe they’ll chime in and say, like, ‘Hey, we want some more!’ So, you know, we leave it in their hands.”
We may not have long to wait, as fans are already demanding a spinoff series starring the elite operative. Some are hoping a new show will focus on the Rainbow organization. In Clancy’s universe, Rainbow is made up of the finest soldiers from a coalition of countries. These elite warriors have banded together to combat terrorism, and their adventures see them traveling to far-flung locations and foiling countless global threats, including plans to release a deadly viral plague.
With season four confirmed as the last ever for Jack Ryan, and demand for more action-packed adventures in the Tom Clancy universe, the highly popular show might end up getting a Ding Chavez spinoff sooner than we think.