Michael Kelly on the bond he built with Dubai while filming Jack Ryan: Ghost War

Michael Kelly, the actor behind CIA veteran Mike November in Jack Ryan: Ghost War, shares his experience of building a bond with Dubai while filming. Upon seeing Tom Cruise scaling Dubai's Burj Khalifa in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, Kelly had imagined his own Dubai moment. However, when the time came to film the sequence, he discovered he was not as fearless as he had imagined.

Standing outside a skyscraper 40 storeys above the ground, Kelly was initially comfortable until a stunt coordinator asked if he felt safe. Only then did he realize he had been gripping the railings subconsciously. Kelly explains that he eventually forgot about the height and focus on the task at hand. The visit to Dubai was a rehearsal for a sequence in the film where Kelly's character walks out of the building towards a crane.

The crew wanted to establish whether Kelly was comfortable with the crossing without a harness. He found the experience easier at night and enjoyed the sequence he was given. After filming, Kelly returned to Dubai as an invitation was made due to the connections he made while filming. He recalls being welcomed with open arms, enjoying the food, and taking a trip into the desert.

Kelly particularly appreciated Dubai's convenience and the welcoming nature of the people. During his stay, he noticed how often people would arrive in the city for a holiday only to end up staying for years. Kelly's experience on Jack Ryan has also led him to campaign for another outing for his character, November. He has suggested taking the character further and pitched a spin-off to the cast.

Kelly's friendship with fellow cast members has already changed how they appear on screen, with Tom Krasinski drawing on their real-life bond to develop the character of Mike November.