In the political-thriller TV series Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, the titular CIA financial analyst is on the run. Accused of treason in the Season 2 finale, the third season premiere finds reluctant hero Jack (John Krasinski) going rogue after being wrongly implicated in a conspiracy. With the CIA hot on his tail, Jack's superior, James Greer (Wendell Pierce), warns him that he's getting deeper into a dangerous situation that he might not be able to get out of.

Racing against time, Jack will crisscross all over Europe in Season 3 in order to prevent Russian activists from detonating a nuclear strike and bringing about an unprecedented global conflict. Not sure who he can trust, a desperate Jack must rely on his wits to stay alive and, eventually, turn to his former ally, Mike November (Michael Kelly), for help. Ahead of the Dec. 21 premiere of Season 3, Krasinski, Kelly, and Pierce recently spoke with CBR about diving back into the action series.

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Jack Ryan S3 Pierce

CBR: John, as Jack Ryan, you sprint, leap, brawl, and fire off guns. How much has this role given you a new appreciation for action sequences? Do you think Jack Ryan could give Ethan Hunt a run for his money?

John Krasinski: It has given me a huge respect for action sequences. Certainly, as a kid, my favorite thing was watching all these action sequences -- people like Tom Cruise doing all that he does. I'm not doing a fraction of what Tom does, and I am exhausted, terrified, and barely making it through the day. At the same time, it was the most fun.

I think I have a chip missing or something. I enjoy the frustration and the pain to get there. I know that at the end, what is caught on film is a moment I could never relive in real life. To get to have that on film and say I was able to do that is pretty great. Probably could have done without being thrown out of a Black Hawk into the ocean, but other than that, everything else was pretty great.

Suffering for the craft.

Exactly.

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Michael, Mike is usually behind the desk. How do you think he fares out in the field more this season?

Michael Kelly: You saw him in Season 2, in the end, where they go rogue and do the action stuff. Me personally, I loved it. I love doing that stuff. I had a blast. I think a part of Mike November loved it. You see, in Season 3, he starts a business dealing in just that. I don't think he shies away from it, either. To get to continue to do that through Season 3... Jack calls on him, and he comes. Mike knows [what] he has to do to help his buddy.

Wendell, James got put through the wringer in Season 2. How did that change him as a person and his perspective on the way things operate?

Wendell Pierce: It reminded him of the dangers out there. More importantly, the real change is how far Jack and Mike went to save my life. That cemented a bond and a trust that is lifelong, even deeper than they already had. He appreciates the positions officers out in the field have. As he goes into leadership, he is going to make sure to care for them, to give them all the resources they need to get the job done. You see that now that Jack is on the run. Personally, I go out on a limb for him... professionally, also. That's the change. A deeper bond with the man who saved my life. I am willing to do anything to make sure I save theirs.

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Jack Ryan S3 Kelly

John, now that Jack is on the run, how does that impact him? Is he forced to cross some lines he doesn't want to cross?

John: Oh, 100%. It's a betrayal. He doesn't know who he can trust, including Greer. There's a part of him that doesn't even trust Greer. Greer is someone who knew about him being burned by the CIA, and according to Jack, didn't do anything about it. This whole idea of being on the run and doing whatever your instincts tell you to do, it sounds exciting to Jack Ryan for a split second. Then, he realizes he is not ready for it. He's not prepared for it, so he actually has to have run-ins with people that he never thought he would see again in life... and certainly people that he hoped to never see again in life.

It's a fun thing to see someone that has a white-knight personality, this Boy Scout that he used to say in Season 1, "This Boy Scout has to deal with real life." The real life is not black and white. It's living in that gray area, which I think Jack is uncomfortable doing.

Jack Ryan Season 3 premieres Dec. 21 on Prime Video.