John Krasinski and Margo Martindale Go Way Back, and It Shows

— -- John Krasinski and Margo Martindale have reunited on screen for the first time in 15 years. But most fans may not remember the first time the pair teamed up — to peddle purses and clothing.

“I was doing a Marshalls commercial. And my young man here was promoted up from an extra to a principal. And he was my partner in the commercial,” Martindale told ABC News.

“I think it was, like, 2001. It was right before I left college,” Krasinski said. “It was my first job. And I remember we connected. We talked all day. And I came home and said, ‘Hey, all of that stuff that they say about Hollywood is not true. I met a really nice person.’”

Fast forward some 15 years and the two are now household names. They’ve teamed up for the new comedy-drama “The Hollars,” which Krasinski also directed.

“I’m a struggling artist in New York and I get a call that my mom is sick,” said Krasinski. “And you realize very quickly that his relationship with his mom is something very special.”

Krasinski handpicked Martindale to play the role of his mom.

“John called me. He got my number from Will Arnett,” Martindale told Peter Travers. “And he called me and said, ‘Do you remember me?’ And this is 15 years later. And I said, ‘Of course, you’re a star.’ And I read it and thought it was wonderful and simple and surprising in a very ordinary way.”

Now that “The Hollars” has been released, Krasinski is busy preparing for his next role as Dr. John Patrick “Jack” Ryan in Amazon's adaptation of the Tom Clancy novels. The news stunned Martindale, who learned about Krasinski’s new gig during the interview.

“What? Are you kidding?” she said, clearly quite both surprised and pleased.

“I’m so excited about it,” said Krasinski.

“The Hollars” is in theaters everywhere.

Watch the full interview with John Krasinski and Margo Martindale on ABC News' "Popcorn With Peter Travers" above.