Michigan and Hatfield may seem worlds apart but seven years ago a film crew transformed a corner of the town into a dead ringer for Detroit.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: The filming of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit in Hatfield.The filming of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit in Hatfield. (Image: Archant)

In September 2012, camera crews converged on the Hilltop area of Hatfield for filming of action thriller Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit.

The Hollywood blockbuster directed by Kenneth Branagh can be seen on Channel 4 on Saturday, January 19 at 9pm.

Based on characters created by Tom Clancy, CIA analyst-turned-action hero Jack Ryan uncovers a Russian plot to crash the US economy with a terrorist attack.

Eagle-eyed viewers will spot the High View shops masquerading as Dearborn – a city in the metropolitan district of the Motor City.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZtVfmTZftk

Hilltop’s distinctive church, St John’s, also features in the espionage thriller.

The parish church in Bishops Rise doubles for the Russian Orthodox church St Uriel the Archangel, where the Russian ‘Lamentations’ operation is activated.

• MORE: New Keira Knightley movie filming in Hatfield

Welwyn Hatfield Times: Chris Pine as Jack Ryan in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. Picture: Larry Horricks / © Paramount Pictures 2014.Chris Pine as Jack Ryan in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. Picture: Larry Horricks / © Paramount Pictures 2014. (Image: © Paramount Pictures 2014. All Rights Reserved.)

High View and Northdown Road were effectively closed for filming for the day.

Playing Jack Ryan in the movie is Chris Pine, best known for playing Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek reboots.

Pine was also American pilot Steve Trevor in the recent movie version of Wonder Woman, starring opposite Gal Gadot, who takes on the title role of Diana, aka Wonder Woman.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: The crew outside Hatfield's St John's Church, which doubles as St Uriel the Archangel in action spy thriller Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit.The crew outside Hatfield's St John's Church, which doubles as St Uriel the Archangel in action spy thriller Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. (Image: Archant)

Scenes from the DC Comics adaptation were filmed in the Long Gallery at Hatfield House.

• MORE: Wonder Woman filmed in Hatfield

Welwyn Hatfield Times: Artificial light streams into St John's Church during filming of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit in Hatfield.Artificial light streams into St John's Church during filming of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit in Hatfield. (Image: Archant)

Released in 2014, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit also stars Bend It Like Beckham and Pirates of the Caribbean favourite Keira Knightley, and Dances With Wolves Oscar winner Kevin Costner.

As well as directing, Kenneth Branagh plays Russian oligarch-cum-terrorist Viktor Cherevin.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: A slice of Americana in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, on set of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recuit.A slice of Americana in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, on set of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recuit. (Image: Archant)

Welwyn Hatfield Times: A strange juxtaposition ahead of filming Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit in the Hilltop area of Hatfield in 2012.A strange juxtaposition ahead of filming Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit in the Hilltop area of Hatfield in 2012. (Image: Archant)

Welwyn Hatfield Times: An American motor parked up in the streetAn American motor parked up in the street (Image: Archant)

Welwyn Hatfield Times: The crew transforming High View in Hatfield into America for filming of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit in 2012.The crew transforming High View in Hatfield into America for filming of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit in 2012. (Image: Archant)

Welwyn Hatfield Times: Filming of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit took place on location in Hatfield outside St John's Church.Filming of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit took place on location in Hatfield outside St John's Church. (Image: Archant)