Jack Ryan recap: Where season 4 left John Krasinski’s CIA hero

It's been three years since we've had John Krasinski as Jack Ryan on our screens but that's all about to change as the highly anticipated film spin-off is dropping next week.

When season 4 of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan dropped in 2023, it was bittersweet for fans. They got to see more of their beloved John Krasinski hero all the whilst knowing it would be their last time meeting with him, on the small screen at least.

Thankfully, it was announced in 2024 that a film spin-off had been confirmed, entitled Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War, which would act as a direct follow-up to the beloved show. But with three years since season 4 you'd be forgiven for not quite remembering where the final series left off.

So, before heading into the new film, here's everything you need to remember from season 4 of the TV show.

Jack Ryan season 4 recap: What happened ahead of the new film

Season 4 of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan saw the titular hero take on his biggest mission yet as acting deputy director of the CIA. Whilst he adjusted to the pressures of his new role alongside acting director Elizabeth Wright (Betty Gabriel), Ryan uncovered corruption within the agency linked to a global crime syndicate known as The Triad.

As the investigation unfolded, Ryan discovered that former CIA director Thomas Miller (John Schwab) secretly helped build the alliance between terrorists and drug cartels through a covert operation called Project Pluto. After a tense international chase, the team raced to stop bombs being smuggled across the United States and Mexico border, and Ryan ultimately prevented a catastrophic attack.

The season ended with Ryan exposing corruption within both the CIA and the US government during a Senate hearing, arguing that those who put power and profit before national security are just as dangerous as external threats.

The season also revisited the romantic relationship between Jack Ryan and Cathy Mueller (Abbie Cornish). Cornish's character was absent from season's two and three before rejoining the cast for the final series. Season 4 began with the pair already back together and ended with them stronger than ever, leaving Washington arm in arm for a much-deserved break.

Why was there only four seasons of the Jack Ryan TV show?

It was announced before the fourth season even dropped that it would be the show's last but why was that the case? Deadline reported at the time that it was always the producer's long term plan to only do four series.

It was also reported that when Krasinski signed on to the production he committed to four season, suggesting that it was simply a matter of his contract coming to an end as was planned. And as he is the show's lead, without him there could be no other series.

How is the Jack Ryan film expected to follow the story line of the show?

Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War has been described as a "direct sequel" to series four of the TV show with the script inspired by Tom Clancy's Ryanverse. It will follow Jack as he finds himself thrust back into the espionage world after a covert mission unveils a deadly conspiracy.

Forced to confront a rogue black-ops unit with the clock ticking down, Jack soon joins forces with his old boss James Greer (Wendell Pierce) and MI6 agent Emma Marlow (Sienna Miller), with the trio, as per the official synopsis, "navigating a treacherous web of betrayal, facing a past they thought was long put to rest – making this the most personal, high-stakes mission any of them have ever faced."

You can watch the trailer for yourself below:

Jack Ryan cast: Who will be returning for the Ghost War film?

John Krasinski will, of course, be reprising his role as the titular character Jack Ryan whilst Wendell Pierce returns as his old boss James Greer. The duo will then be joined by newcomer Sienna Miller as MI6 operative Emma Marlowe, a key ally in Ryan's latest mission.

Other returning players include Michael Kelly (House of Cards) and Betty Gabriel (Clickbait), who are coming back as private security contractor, Mike November, and CIA director Elizabeth Wright, respectively, whilst other new additions to the cast include Mckenna Bridger, Max Beesley, Douglas Hodge and JJ Feild.

However, notably missing from the film's cast list are two key characters Cathy Mueller played by Abbie Cornish and Michael Peña's Ding Chavez. Cornish had a big part in the first series, but then was absent from season's one and two before coming back in the fourth and final season. A spin-off was planned for Peña's character, who only joined the franchise in season 4 as fan favourite book character Domingo Chavez, but was soon cancelled. Whether he will either appear in the upcoming film still remains to be seen.

Here is the cast of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War:

• John Krasinski as Jack Ryan
• Wendell Pierce as James Greer
• Sienna Miller as Emma Marlowe
• Michael Kelly as Mike November
• Betty Gabriel as Elizabeth Wright
• Max Beesley
• Douglas Hodge
• JJ Feild

When is the Jack Ryan film being released?

Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War is going straight to TV rather than having a theatrical release. Fans can watch the highly anticipated new John Krasinski film from Wednesday 20 May on Prime Video.

The film is directed by Andrew Bernstein whilst the script has been penned by Krasinski himself alongside Aaron Rabin (Nobody 2).

Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War will be available to stream on Prime Video from Wednesday 20 May. All four seasons of Jack Ryan are available to stream now – you can sign up now for a free 30-day Prime Video trial.

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