Jack Ryan Director Explains How Harrison Ford and The West Wing Influenced His New Spy Thriller

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It started as a small project, and has grown tremendously since then. The show’s main character, played by the talented John Krasinski, quickly became a hit when it premiered on streaming services and has remained popular ever since, demonstrating Krasinski’s ability to succeed in the action-packed world of spy thrillers.

After eight years and four seasons of the Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan series, the story now continues in a full-length movie, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War, available on Prime Video. The film features the show’s main actors, along with stars like Michael Kelly (known from House of Cards and The Penguin) and Dominic West (The Wire, Treme).

Simply put, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War strongly evokes classic spy thrillers, and that was intentional. Director Andrew Bernstein, who also worked on the Prime Video series as a director and executive producer, has openly admitted this was the goal.

How Harrison Ford Inspired Jack Ryan: Ghost War

Bernstein carefully maintained the core elements and atmosphere that make the Jack Ryan stories so beloved. He also cleverly included a nod to at least one classic Harrison Ford film that influenced him, remembering, of course, what made Tom Clancy’s writing so distinctive.

Bernstein found plenty of inspiration, drawing from his extensive experience in the industry. He’s a New Yorker with a long and impressive list of credits as an assistant director, director, and executive producer.

Jack Ryan Director Learned From The West Wing

One notable project was the acclaimed TV series The West Wing, which continues to be considered one of the greatest shows ever made. Its impact can still be seen today, even influencing the production of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War almost three decades later.

Bernstein often thinks of The West Wing as where he really learned to direct. He considers it the beginning of his directing career and, in many ways, his film school. It was there he discovered how to work with talented actors, how to guide them, and what makes a story and writing truly excellent.

Looking back, that role was a real turning point for me. I stumbled quite a bit, honestly, and learned just as much from my mistakes as from my successes. It was a huge period of growth, and it’s where I really started to believe I could actually pull off a career in this industry. While I’m proud of everything I’ve done since, that’s where my confidence as an actor truly began.

Essentially, the Prime Video series has finished after four seasons, and there are no current plans for a continuation of Ghost War. However, it’s possible Jack Ryan could return in the future, as the creator, Bernstein, has many ideas if asked to develop more episodes.

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War is currently streaming on Prime Video.

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2026-05-21 21:40