Even Though Lee Child "Liked" Tom Cruise Amid Casting Backlash, The Author Explains Why Alan Ritchson Was "Born" To Play Reacher

Reacher author Lee Child reflects on the controversial casting of Tom Cruise for the previous movie adaptations, explaining why Alan Ritchson is better suited to play the former military man. Ritchson is back as Jack Reacher for the third installment of the Prime Video adaptation, with Reacher season 4 already confirmed. It's proven to be a more resilient hit on television, quickly establishing itself as Prime Video's most successful series, as opposed to the Tom Cruise films which faded away after just two entries, those being the 2012 self-named movieand its 2016 sequel, Never Go Back.

In comments to The Independent, Child reflecting on the casting of Cruise and how the Top Gun actor led to online disagreement. The Reacher author said that he liked working with Cruise, albeit he agreed with readers that Cruise wasn't right for the part. The author also praised the first film, but acknowledged that Cruise lacked the towering physical presence that defines the character, while complimenting Ritchson as being born for the role. Check out what Child said below:

I thought the first movie in particular was excellent. It was a really crisp, hard-edged thriller. Working with Tom was a pleasure and a privilege – he’s a really smart guy, he’s a smart filmmaker, he’s real fun. But you cannot escape the fact that Reacher is a huge guy. I mean, that is a component in his entire approach to the world and the world’s approach to him. He’s huge, he’s implacable, he’s scary, and for all Tom’s ability in getting the internals of Reacher out, he is not huge and he’s not scary. So the readers were terribly upset about it and I think, ultimately, the readers were right. Alan was born to play Reacher and I think he knows that.

What Child's Comments Reveal About Reacher

The TV Show Leaned Into The Character's Physicality

The first Jack Reacher film performed solidly at the box office, grossing over $218 million at the worldwide box office against a reported $60 million budget. The second installment delivered shakier results, grossing over $162 million against a budget that reportedly went as high as $96 million by some estimates. But the films were always at a bit of a disadvantage, considering Cruise's physical stature but also his stature in Hollywood.

Custom image of Tom Cruise's Jack Reacher against a city skyline

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The hit Prime Video series is Ritchson's breakout role, with the actor earning generally positive assessments for his part in leading the Reacher cast. There's a certain charm to watching how he evolves with the character, finding new avenues to highlight in his performance, compared to Cruise, who was already uber-established as an action hero by the time he played the book hero. He'd already led Top Gun, not to mention the Mission: Impossible movies, and it's arguable that, with Jack Reacher, it would all blend together.

Our Take On Alan Ritchson As Jack Reacher

Familiarity Isn't Always Best

Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher, leaning forward, in Reacher season 2, episode 1 — An image from Reacher season 3, episode 1

On some level, it's understandable that Tom Cruise was chosen to lead a Reacher movie. Producers need assurances that a film will perform well, and getting a big actor to put on the poster is a significant element that helps pave the way for success. But, thankfully, TV is still a little more open to taking relatively risky swings, and by taking a chance on Ritchson, Prime Video has someone that looks the part but may also define the role for more seasons to come.

New episodes of Reacher season 3 stream Thursdays on Prime Video.

Source: The Independent