Jack Ryan: BTS Facts And Easter Eggs Every Fan Should Know

The Unmissable Spy Series

The Jack Ryan movies adapted the novels of Tom Clancy, but when Amazon Prime Video decided to create a completely fresh take on the series, many were skeptical. However, John Krasinski’s performance as the elite spy turned heads and earned the show a strong fanbase. Here are some of the best behind-the-scenes stories from the making of the show.

John Krasinski Got the Role from a Casual Conversation

Years before the show existed, John Krasinski was at a party and ran into Michael Bay (whose company, Platinum Dunes, would later produce the series). Krasinski, a huge fan of the Clancy films, told Bay he'd love to play the part if they ever did a new one. Years later, when the TV series was being cast, Bay's partner recalled that conversation, and Krasinski was the first and only actor they called.

13 Hours Served as Krasinski's "Unofficial" Audition

The biggest hurdle for Krasinski was shedding his lovable "Jim Halpert" image. When he was first cast, many fans couldn't see the paper salesman as a CIA action hero. However, Krasinski had already starred in Michael Bay's 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, where his physical transformation and intense performance proved he could believably carry a gun and lead a high-stakes military thriller.

It's an Original Story, Not a Book Adaptation

Unlike the Harrison Ford or Ben Affleck films that adapted specific novels (like Clear and Present Danger or The Sum of All Fears), the Prime Video series is a completely original story. The creators, Carlton Cuse and Graham Roland, wanted to create a modern-day "prequel" version of the character, showing his first major field mission as an analyst-turned-agent, long before he becomes the high-ranking CIA boss of the books.

Wendell Pierce Deliberately Ignored a Star Wars Legend

When Wendell Pierce (Greer) was cast, he knew he was stepping into the shoes of the legendary James Earl Jones (Darth Vader), who played the role in the films. Pierce has stated he intentionally did not re-watch Jones's performance. He wanted to build his own Greer from the ground up, basing him on the book's version: a gritty, by-the-books field agent, not just the "desk-bound boss" from the movies.

The Show Had a Lost Co-Creator

One of the key figures behind Jack Ryan's first two seasons was co-creator and showrunner Carlton Cuse. Fans of mystery-box, high-concept TV will know that name instantly—Cuse was the co-showrunner for all six seasons of Lost.

Krasinski Did Many of His Own Stunts

Krasinski was committed to making the action feel as real as possible. He performed many of his own stunts, including the grueling rooftop chase in the first episode. The sequence, which involved him jumping between buildings in Morocco, was filmed over multiple days and left him (in his own words) completely "wrecked."

The Production Was Truly Global

The show's "movie-like" budget was put on full display. Unlike many shows that use green screens or a single city "dressed" as another, Jack Ryan filmed all over the world. The production shot on-location in Morocco, Paris, Montreal, Colombia, London, Moscow, and Budapest, among others, giving the series its authentic, globe-trotting scale.

The Disappearance (and Return) of Cathy Mueller

One of the biggest fan mysteries of the series was the character of Dr. Cathy Mueller (Abbie Cornish). She was the main love interest in Season 1 and then... completely vanished. She wasn't mentioned in Seasons 2 or 3, leaving fans confused. This was, however, a long-term plan. The creators brought her back for the final season, finally paying off the relationship that is central to Jack Ryan's entire book legacy.

Michael Kelly's Role Was a "Happy Accident"

Michael Kelly's character, the cynical and scene-stealing Mike November, was never supposed to be a series regular. He was only meant to have a small arc in Season 2. However, the producers and writers loved his energy and his chemistry with Krasinski so much that they kept writing him into more scenes, eventually making him a main, fan-favorite character for the rest of the series.

John Krasinski is the First TV Jack Ryan

While Jack Ryan is one of the most famous literary heroes of all time, he had never been the main character of a television show. Before Krasinski, the role was famously played on the big screen by four different actors: Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck, and Chris Pine. Krasinski holds the distinction of being the first (and so far, only) actor to bring the character to the small screen as a series lead.