Among the most anticipated projects landing on the 2026 TV schedule is no doubt the fourth season of Reacher, as fans can’t get enough of watching Alan Ritchson’s nomadic bada-s putting his fist through other characters’ faces. The actor is well aware of its popularity, especially after it was recently renewed for Season 5, and he’s now made a big move to keep that creative relationship locked up.

Ritchson has agreed to a three-year, first-look TV deal with Amazon MGM Studios that will put him atop the chain of command for developing and producing new episodic projects for the studio aimed at those with Prime Video subscriptions. The deal was set up by Amazon MGM for Ritchson’s production company Dancing Skeleton, and will likely continue the actor’s growing involvement behind the scenes on the projects that he signs on to star in.

It’s a huge, if not entirely shocking, move for Ritchson to align himself with one studio, considering how wildly popular he’s become in the years since he first started playing one of author Lee Childs’ most beloved character. He’s clearly got a good thing going on Reacher, for which he’s also an executive producer, and which also has the Maria Sten-starring spinoff Neagley also hitting the service this year.

Alan Ritchson shared the following thoughts as his official statement, which lends to the belief that Reacher isn’t going away anytime soon. As he put it:

You might be wondering how the Titans vet can work on developing new TV projects while also managing to keep his abs ripped all the time, and…well…that’s just plain magic, I think.

Interestingly, the deal is specifically relegated to television content, and not film projects. That obviously lends itself to all things Reacher, but Ritchson has also been ramping up his filmography credits with movie roles, and has half-jokingly addressed his inability to say “no” to new roles. I’d think Netflix’s War Machine was his biggest hit from the past year.

That said, he also co-starred in the nutty comedy Play Date opposite Kevin James, which was a Prime Video original. And two of his already filmed upcoming projects are also plugged in at Amazon, making the TV deal seem all the more natural a pairing. Here's a look at all of the upcoming projects Ritchson has on the way (at least the ones that are in active development).

Here’s hoping we get an actual release date for Reacher Season 4 at some point soon, since we know that wrapped filming months ago. I assume we’ll be seeing Neagley first, given it came first in order of production, but who knows. Maybe with his new deal, the actor can demand that the newest episodes of the flagship series go live first, and then he’ll get YOU, my pretty, and your little dog, too.

Alan Ritchson always seems to be ripped; that’s not a secret. He works constantly, and more often than not, he’s pulling off difficult action sequences in said work. That’s especially true for Reacher. So, he has to stay in tip-top shape. However, you might think that when a show like that wraps, he relaxes a bit at the gym. But guess what? He doesn't, and he just explained why he keeps the six-pack during the off-season in a shirtless gym post.

Now, Reacher Season 4 wrapped production in November 2025. Then, in March 2026, Ritchson updated us, explaining that he’d finished ADR and the show would be “hitting the airwaves very soon.” However, just because they’ve wrapped another season of this Prime Video show does not mean the titular star is going to stop staying in Jack Reacher shape, as he posted on Instagram:

Well, the photo speaks for itself. Alan Ritchson is in fantastic shape. However, there are deep reasons behind this choice to essentially stay in Reacher shape. While he could cool down the workouts a bit in the off-season, I have mad respect for why he really doesn’t. In the words of the actor:

Clearly, the War Machine star has made staying in impeccable shape part of his day-to-day life. It obviously has tons of benefits too. The photo shows that off, however, as the actor said, consistency has lots of other benefits too. For example, I'd assume it will be easier for him to hop right back into work if Reacher gets renewed for a fifth season.

Now, speaking of Reacher, I’m hopeful that Season 4 will premiere on the 2026 TV schedule. It seems very possible, and my excitement for it only grows every time the Playdate actor talks about it.

I’m not kidding, the upcoming book-to-screen adaptation has been very hyped up by Ritchson. At first, he was worried it wouldn’t top Season 3, but he quickly realized that this new installment is “different,” and he said that he thinks it's “for sure the best season.”

Along with the actor explaining how great he thinks the season is, he also called out the action in it. At one point, he said what we’re about to see is so “high octane” that people should check their “heart health” before they watch. Well, considering the fights he got in during Season 3 and his pristine physique, I have no doubt Ritchson and his crew figured out how to up the action ante for Season 4.

So, get ready, folks. Clearly, Alan Ritchson is committed to the part (even during his off-time), and he’s confident in what they’re about to deliver to fans. With that said, make sure you have your Amazon Prime subscriptions ready. Reacher is coming back.

Meanwhile, Alan Ritchson’s abs aren’t going anywhere.

Alan Ritchson has always been good at keeping us updated about his book-to-screen adaptation of Reacher. He’s keeping that up, too, because while we’ve known that he’s been working on Season 4 of Reacher, we weren’t sure when we’d get to see it. Well, now the star has provided an update about when this action-packed series will be “hitting the airwaves.”

It’s been a little over a year since we watched Season 3 of Reacher, which included that epic Reacher and Paulie fight and so many other memorable action moments. Now, it seems possible that we’ll get to watch Season 4 and a whole bunch of new action-packed scenes very soon, as Alan Ritchson took to Instagram to say:

In his caption, the actor specifically noted that this was a “wrap for [him] on post-production,” which means he really is done with Season 4. So, I feel like the odds of seeing it on the 2026 TV schedule are very high.

If I had to guess, I’d say that Ritchson really does mean we’ll be seeing Season 4 “very soon” too. Taking a look back, after Season 1 came out in February 2022, Season 2 followed in December 2023 after being delayed by strikes. However, a little over a year later, Season 3 premiered for those with an Amazon Prime subscription in February 2025. So, considering the show didn't face delays as it has in the past, it'd make sense if Season 4 dropped a little over a year after the last season came out.

Plus, Ritchson is all done with his ADR. That means he’s gone in and fixed all the audio and dialogue that needed to be redone in post-production. Therefore, they’re getting very close to having the episodes of Reacher ready for us.

Along with the release update, Ritchson also shared how proud he is of Season 4. While he was nervous that it wouldn’t top Season 3, he’s proven himself wrong. Over the last few months, the actor has been clear about this too, saying at one point that what’s coming next is “so different, and so unexpected.”

When the show wrapped on Season 4 late last year, it looked like the actor had been through a literal blood bath. So, whatever is coming next is bound to be high-octane and intense, which is what we’ve come to expect and love about Reacher.

Now, when it comes to what to expect “very soon,” we know Season 4 will be an adaptation of the book Gone Tomorrow. That novel follows Reacher as he races through New York City after meeting a mysterious woman on a subway, and he faces deception and lots of folks trying to kill him. So, it sounds like we’re in for a wild ride.

It seems like we’ll get to go on that wild ride soon, too! So, get ready, folks, Season 4 of Reacher has wrapped, and according to Alan Ritchson, we should be seeing this show’s “best season yet” on our screens “very soon.”

Amazon Prime Video has quietly racked up an impressive lineup of originals over the past several years, but tops among those has to be Reacher, the Alan Ritchson vehicle that has attracted notice for its hulking action scenes, its memorable one-liners and its over-the-top storylines. It’s a fun show, and I love it, but I have to say sorry to the Reacher family because I think another new-to-Amazon series has topped it.

New Series Young Sherlock Hit Amazon Video This Month

Those with an Amazon Prime subscription have likely seen some sort of promotion for Young Sherlock, the cheeky new action-adventure series from Guy Ritchie and Peter Harness. If you haven’t seen any promotional footage, it’s a British TV series and a brand new take on Sherlock Holmes, set during his younger years. This version, played by Hero Fiennes Tiffin, has a mother, played by The Truman Show’s Natascha McElhone.

Most intriguingly, and the reason I am so obsessed with Young Sherlock both in concept and execution, is his relationship with a young James Moriarty, played by Irish actor Dónal Finn. Finn previously appeared in Amazon’s other adaption Wheel of Time, but I didn’t know him before throwing on this latest series, and I’m so happy this is the role I got to see him in.

The two young men are fabulous, constantly verbally sparring and spurring one another on. Deduction after deduction plays out between the two men, and watching them unravel knots and put puzzle pieces together is decidedly fun. More fun than Reacher? Your bandwidth may vary depending on your personal taste, but I’m a sucker for Sherlock Holmes adaptations, and I’ve never seen a version of Sherlock where he and Moriarty could begin as friends and land at foe hopefully at a later-to-be-determined date. (Though the finale is already leading to some hints about what the future will hold.)

Reacher and Young Sherlock may not seem to have too much in common at first glance. One has a younger protagonist, the other has a grizzled and hulking forty-something at the head. One show is American, the other is British. One show is set in the past and one show is set in the present. The differences are many.

Yet, the reason I keep comparing the two shows is that they make me feel the same way. I love watching Reacher for its quippy, deadpanned one-liners. I love watching Young Sherlock for the way Sherlock and James take the piss out of each other. I love watching Reacher for its innovative action scenes; in fact, though, Guy Ritchie and co. have a tendency to put together some unusual and memorable action sequences as well. The shows are unalike and yet they put the same pep in my step.

I’m hopeful we’ll have both on the schedule in the future. I wouldn’t mind having Reacher one season and a new season of Young Sherlock the next. And don’t forget, we’ve been waiting for the Neagley spinoff for a while, as well. There’s good stuff to come on the Amazon Prime Video front, and I’m hoping Young Sherlock will ultimately land a renewal alongside Reacher Season 4. It's just too fun to go away this soon.

Across three seasons of Reacher so far, Alan Ritchson has been a part of some hectic car chases, some bloody gunfights, and some epic hand-to-hand brawls, with his titular ex-military vagabond coming out on top each and every time. With every encounter, Ritchson’s towering height re-justifies the decision to cast him in the role, which famously went to Tom “Shortstack” Cruise for the pair of movies. It can be easy to forget just how big the dude is, but his awkward workout post is a hilarious reminder.

Reacher Season 4 is currently in the throes of production, and thus won’t be making a return to the 2025 TV schedule, but fans are holding out hopes that the upcoming spinoff Neagley will arrive before 2026 does. (Check out what star Maria Sten recent said about it.) In the meantime, we’ll just have to make do with Alan Ritchson’s social media posts like the one below, in which he has a pretty heightened issue with his hotel gym.

Yikes! It looks like the Titans vet could barely stand up in there in his bare feet, much less while wearing shoes and stepping up onto exercise equipment. Even the skinnest treadmill would still likely mean Ritchson would be grazing his head against the gym room's ceiling.

The text superimposed on the video, "Hotel gyms be like that," is a pretty good indicator that this wasn't Ritchson's first time having to cock his neck at a wonky angle in order to get his workout on. It's kind of amusing to think that there may be various hotels around the country (or world) where the ceiling is scuffed up where the actor's sweaty head brushed up against it.

Maybe in Reacher Season 4, he'll take on architects and construction workers who aren't designing hotel gyms to be tall enough. Not exactly the best use of the man's muscles and talents, but still.

Season 3 intentionally played up the character’s behemoth stature by casting Olivier Richters as the antagonist Paulie, who had little trouble going toe to toe with Ritchson, given his 7-foot, 2-inch height. As such, I don't see the creative team trying to top that by hiring an actor who's 7'5" or whatever, so maybe a low ceiling will be the big bad in the new season.

Reacher is heading to Philadelphia for Season 4, which he previously boasted is one that viewers will need to check their heart health due to overexcitement. He even went above an beyond by getting a shiner during the first month or so of filming. I'd hate to see the other guy, though. Especially if the other guy is a low-hanging hotel gym ceiling.

The next time you find yourself with your head in the clouds, you just might see Alan Ritchson's head also poking through. And guess what? He's actually kneeling down.

Filming Reacher is no joke, and it turns out filming Neagley is the same way. We learned that production had begun on this Reacher spinoff right as Season 3 of the flagship series was airing on the 2025 TV schedule. Now, Neagley’s star Maria Sten has provided an update and revealed how little time off she gets alongside the thing she was finally able to do with her few hours of spare time.

Now, we know filming Reacher is not an easy task. During my interviews with the cast, Olivier Richters told me that both he and Alan Ritchson believed that the Paulie vs. Reacher fight was “the most physically demanding thing” they’d ever done. He also revealed that they’d spend 10 to 14 hours on set per day while filming it. It sounds like Sten’s days on Neagley are long and exhausting, too, as she posted this on her Instagram story:

I already knew working on a show in this universe had to be difficult. I mean, I’ve heard how much Alan Ritchson eats to stay in shape, and he’s not shy about sharing stories about on-set injuries. However, this element of a high-action job like Sten's was something I hadn’t really comprehended.

It’s wild that Sten has had so little time off that she just found time to shave her legs. However, as a woman, I know that you have to plan those showers that include tasks like shaving your legs or washing your hair, because they can be quite time-consuming. So, I get why the actress’s shaving routine may have been thrown out of whack.

However, with little time off, she finally had a moment to take her time and do all the self-care needed. Apparently, that included shaving her legs.

Now, while this lack of free time is a big shock at first, it does make sense. Maria Sten is number one on Neagley’s call sheet, and odds are she’s in almost every scene of the show. So, obviously, her schedule will be incredibly demanding and likely lack lots of downtime.

Plus, I’d bet her work requires more than just being on set, as she has to also learn her lines, stunt choreography and more. Reacher has set a high bar for its spinoff to maintain, and it seems clear to me that Sten is putting in the hard work and the hours to meet these expectations.

I’m sure she’ll do it too. Maria Sten has been appearing here and there in Reacher since Season 1, so she knows exactly what is expected. The only difference now is she’s the lead. And it sounds like being the lead means less free time, more meticulously scheduled downtime, and taking the small self-care wins, like shaving your legs, where you can.

Well, Reacher Season 3 came to an explosive end on the 2025 TV schedule, which means it’s time to start getting excited for Reacher Season 4 by guessing which book they’ll adapt next. Thankfully – even though we don’t know which Lee Child novel the next season will follow – Alan Ritchson did reveal his favorite of the books, and I think Amazon should consider it for this upcoming senior season.

After adapting 1997’s Killing Floor for Season 1, 2007’s Bad Luck and Trouble for Season 2, and 2003’s Persuader for Season 3, the door is really wide open for where this book-to-screen adaptation could go next, seeing as there are nearly 30 more books to choose from. However, I think Alan Ritchson is cooking up a good idea, as he told Men’s Journal:

Die Trying was the second Reacher book ever to be published, and it’s the sixth one in terms of chronology. The 1998 novel follows Jack Reacher after he and a woman get kidnapped and chained together. According to the book’s synopsis, they are “locked in the back of a stifling van, and racing across America to an unknown destination for an unknown purpose.”

Now, I don’t know about you, but that sounds incredible, enticing and action-packed, which is exactly what we want from Reacher.

So, now knowing that, I can see why Ritchson would love to adapt it, as he explained:

I hope he finds a way, and I hope he does it soon. Reacher Season 4 was confirmed a while ago, and I’d personally love to see an adaptation of Die Trying sooner than later. And while adaptations of 61 Hours or others would be amazing, Ritchson’s personal passion for the second book of the series mixed with its fascinating plot has me sold that it should come first.

Seeing Reacher trying to figure out who kidnapped him sounds like so much action-y fun. Plus, this whole idea that he’s handcuffed to another person for a long period of time sounds like extra entertaining TV. That alone could inspire sick action sequences, funny moments, and maybe even a little romance. Honestly, it sounds incredible, and I’m happy the show's leading man is determined to make it happen.

Now, I guess, we just have to hold out hope that this book will get adapted someday. My hopes are set on it being the basis of Season 4. However, I’ll also settle for another installment in the near future as long as we get it someday.

Hopefully, we’ll know more about which novel will inspire Reacher’s next on-screen adventure soon, and we’ll be sure to tell you once we know. However, in the meantime, you can stream the first three seasons with an Amazon Prime subscription, get excited for the Neagley spinoff that’s in production right now, and cross your fingers that Alan Ritchson’s favorite Reacher book will get the television treatment.

Spoilers for Reacher’s Season 3 finale are ahead! If you haven’t seen it yet, you can stream it with an Amazon Prime subscription.

Ever since it was announced that Reacher Season 3 would follow Lee Childs’ book Persuader and we learned that Olivier Richters would play Paulie, we’ve been waiting for the Reacher vs. Paulie fight. Well, folks, we were finally able to watch it when the finale dropped on the 2025 TV schedule, and it did not disappoint. What makes it even better is understanding just how much work went into pulling it off, and thankfully, Richters told me all about it.

When I asked Olivier Richters – who is 7’2” and almost a full foot taller than Alan Ritchson, who is 6’3” – about filming the Paulie vs. Reacher fight, he immediately noted how hard he trained. His co-star has been doing this for a long time, and he’s an accomplished action actor. So, the Dutch bodybuilder knew he needed to “keep up,” explaining:

He sure did keep up, and he proved to be a worthy adversary for Reacher.

The fight involves Reacher getting slammed into a truck, Paulie taking a bunch of punches, Reacher getting hung by a chain and releasing himself from it, oh, and an absolutely wild fight in the water as well as Paulie’s bloody death. Not to mention, the fight spans across multiple locations and takes up about 14 minutes of the episode.

So, after seeing all that, it was put into perspective when Richters told me how much time and effort went into shooting this ginormous action sequence:

I also want to thank them for putting their bodies through this. I can’t imagine how hard it must have been. However, it looked incredible on-screen. I think it’s safe to say that after anticipating this moment for a very long time, it was well worth the wait and work.

To really hammer that point home, Richters told me that during the press day, he spoke to Ritchson about the scene, and they both agreed it was the “most physically demanding thing” they’d ever done:

Well, that means a lot coming from Alan Ritchson. The actor has made three seasons of Reacher and has filmed epic sequences that have required him to fight, be thrown into walls and more. Plus, the Jack Reacher actor stays in tip-top shape. He’s no stranger to the demanding action required for his Prime Video show. However, this Paulie fight sounds like it was a different (and bigger) beast.

Now, I have to go back and re-watch this highly anticipated moment in the book-to-screen adaptation of Persuader to really appreciate all the work that went into it. For both Richters and Ritchson to say it was “the most physically demanding thing” they’ve ever done is pretty wild, and it just goes to show how remarkable this long-awaited and epic fight was.

Spoilers for the Season 3 finale of Reacher are ahead! If you have not watched it yet, you can stream it with an Amazon Prime subscription.

The Season 3 finale of Reacher is titled “Unfinished Business.” However, in the episode that just dropped on the 2025 TV schedule, Alan Ritchson’s character most certainly finished it. That was especially true in the case of Xavier Quinn. After failing to kill his enemy the first time, the titular character took Brian Tee’s villain down in epic fashion, and the antagonist’s actor told me how he tried filming it in “different ways” and why they ultimately “nailed it.”

During CinemaBlend’s Reacher interviews, I asked Brian Tee about his character’s final moment. I specifically noted the juxtaposition of Reacher shooting Quinn in the cheek and off a cliff in the Episode 4 flashback after everything that happened to Dominique and this scene where he successfully killed him. In response, the actor told me:

To quickly recap, in the finale, when the Russian mobster Taktarov tried to take Tee’s character away, Reacher stopped it, noting that Quinn was his. Then, Reacher’s whole team showed up to help him, and they were able to trade money for the bad guy.

Ultimately, Quinn’s life ended right after Reacher reminded him that “her name was Dominique,” and we flashed back to the Dominique Kohl episode and the moment the protagonist first shot the villain in the cheek. This time, though, he made sure he was dead, and we saw him fall over after being shot in the head.

Tee was very complimentary of the showrunner, director and Ritchson while breaking down why this final scene worked. He said they had tried it quite a few different ways to see which dynamics worked best, and that hard work certainly paid off, as he explained:

I think the part that got me most was Quinn’s final close-up, where we saw what looked like a tear forming in his eye. Whether it’s fear of death or remembrance of what he did to Dominique is unclear. However, his reckoning with what he did certainly made this big moment even more satisfying.

To that point, Tee told me that working with this whole team on this scene is what made it so great, and he rightfully thought they “nailed it,” saying:

Overall, this, mixed with huge action sequences like Reacher’s fight with Paulie, was an epic way to close out the season and tie this fiasco with the Becks and Quinn back to a deeply personal tragedy Reacher faced years ago.

Now, it’s time to look forward to Reacher Season 4. Season 3 easily solidified the series as one of Prime Video’s best shows, and big full-circle moments, like Quinn’s death, showed just how much thought and care is put into each season’s overarching story. So, yeah, I can’t wait to see what bad guy Alan Ritchson’s Reacher takes down next and the epic way he does it.

Reacher is one of the big hits airing on the 2025 TV schedule right now, and Seth Rogen, of all people, just reiterated the point. In the lead-up to the premiere of his upcoming Apple TV+ series, The Studio, the actor explained that he actually loves to spend his weekends watching the Alan Ritchson-led show (which I love for him and the series), and he does so in a particularly on-brand way.

While chatting about the work he and his production company do, Seth Rogen revealed to The Guardian that he actually works pretty normal hours and gets to spend his weekends relaxing. He said he and his producing/writing partner Evan Goldberg work from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. normally and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. when filming. Now, when it comes to what he does on the weekends, it sounds like it’s all about getting caught up on TV and not doing much else, as he revealed:

As you likely know, Seth Rogen gets high often, and he even owns a weed company. He’s honestly one of Hollywood’s most famous stoners, and he’s proud of it. So, it’s not shocking that he gets high while using an Amazon Prime subscription to watch Reacher.

Honestly, this all sounds like a good way to wind down after a week of work. New episodes of Reacher drop every Thursday, making it a great weekend watch. Plus, every installment is action-packed and highly entertaining, so I can see why Rogen gave the series a shout-out while chatting about what he does during his time off.

Now, I’d love to know his thoughts on Season 3. Has he read Persuader, the book this season is based on? How does he feel about this season's villains? Does he have thoughts about Reacher and Duffy’s relationship? Is he looking forward to seeing Reacher and Paulie face off? As a fellow fan of Reacher, I would love all these questions to be answered by Rogen. However, that seems like a far-flung dream, so for now, I’ll just hang on to the fact that he’s a fan of the show.

You know, these comments got me thinking about Rogen’s new show, too. So far, critics’ reactions to The Studio have been overwhelmingly positive, and the comedy has a remarkable list of guest stars (via THR) that range from Anthony Mackie to Martin Scorsese to Zoë Kravitz. With a wide-ranging guest star list like that, maybe Alan Ritchson could hop into the mix if the show gets a Season 2?

Obviously, that’s also a far-flung dream, seeing as the first season of The Studio premieres tomorrow (March 26), so news of renewal is likely a ways away. However, a girl can fantasize. Plus, you never know what could happen. I never pegged Seth Rogen as a Reacher fan, but here we are. So, maybe someday, he and Alan Ritchson could work together.

Now, as I wait for these dreams to become reality, I’ll be getting excited for Reacher’s Season 3 finale that drops this Thursday and preparing to watch The Studio with an Apple TV+ subscription on Wednesday. And you should, too. One has Seth Rogen’s stamp of approval, and the other was made by him and is already receiving rave reviews, so I think it’s safe to say they’re both very worth your time.

If you take a look at the streaming originals airing on the 2025 TV schedule right now, you’ll quickly realize that it’s filled with banger after banger. From Apple TV+’s Severance to Max’s The Pitt, and so much more, it’s honestly overwhelming how many shows are on right now. However, leading the pack are programs like 1923, Reacher and Tyler Perry’s Beauty and Black, which the aforementioned producer recently highlighted.

Now, notably, Yellowstone’s 1923 is significantly more popular than Reacher, however both boast impressive numbers. And to Perry’s post’s point, it’s worth noting that his Netflix series should also be part of this conversation about all the incredible television that’s on at the moment.

More People Are Watching 1923 Than Reacher, However, Both Have Impressive Viewership

Considering 1923 is part of the greater world of Yellowstone shows, it makes sense why it’s one of the most viewed programs on streaming right now. According to Variety, it’s estimated minutes watched is sitting at 1.4 billion, which puts it in second place behind Netflix’s Adolescence.

That’s a crazy high number, and it's maintained that viewership for at least two weeks. However, again, considering the success of its predecessor and the thrilling story surrounding the Duttons fighting for their land and Spencer getting back home, I can’t say I’m shocked so many people use a Paramount+ subscription to tune in week after week.

However, what is kind of surprising is how much 1923 is outpacing Prime Video’s Reacher, another major hit. The Alan Ritchson-led series that’s available with an Amazon Prime subscription currently sits at No. 4 in the rankings, and had an estimated 724.2 million minutes watched this week.

Now, that might be quite a bit lower than 1923’s numbers, but it’s still seriously impressive. It’s no wonder Reacher Season 4 is already happening…

It’s worth noting, though, that both these projects are returning programs and have established fan bases thanks to their predecessors – in 1923’s case it’s shows like Yellowstone and in Reacher’s case it’s based on a wildly popular book series. So, their consistent success makes sense.

Now, with that in mind, you can see why it’s also worth noting the success of Tyler Perry’s Beauty in Black in this conversation.

Meanwhile, Tyler Perry Pointed Out That Beauty In Black Is Also Thriving

Tyler Perry’s Beauty in Black dropped Part 1 on Netflix last October, and Part 2 was released in March. Last week, the show was sitting at 1.1 billion estimated million views watched, as Tyler Perry’s Instagram stories re-post of Boardroom’s graphic of Variety’s charts illustrated. This week, it’s at 469.5 million.

That put it above Reacher and right below 1923 last week, and it keeps in the Top Ten this week. So, yeah, this drama deserves some love too, as Perry – who created the show – implied with his re-post.

According to Netflix’s Top 10, the series about a family who runs a cosmetics dynasty and trafficking scheme has spent six weeks in the ranks between its release in October and now, showing that those with a Netflix subscription have been and still are watching this show.

Overall, 1923, Reacher and Beauty in Black are all worth checking out, as their numbers prove. And if you’d like to be part of those seriously high viewership numbers, the Yellowstone prequel drops episodes on Paramount+ each Sunday, Reacher posts new episodes on Amazon Prime every Thursday, and all of Beauty in Black was released on Netflix’s 2025 TV schedule. So, you should get to watching!

TV audiences will no doubt have seen dozens, if not hundreds, of on-screen fight sequences by the time the 2025 TV schedule wraps up, but few tend to be as one-sided as the brawls on display during any given season of Reacher. (Not that Season 3 has yet given us Alan Ritchson’s big fight with the hulking behemoth antagonist played by Olivier Richters.) So it was quite amusing to watch Reacher’s attempt to teach Johnny Berchtold’s Richard Beck how to fight.

Truth be told, that sequence in “Dominique” was far more of Reacher’s verbal instructions than anything resembling a hyper-physical training montage from Rocky, but in talking to CinemaBlend about his character’s journey in Season 3, Berchtold explained that he did get to take a legitimate swing at his muscle-covered co-star, even if it went the opposite way from what he expected. When I asked if sparring with Alan Ritchson ever made him feel confident enough to take the actor down, Berchtold told me:

I can 100% understand why the younger Reacher star would have been initially hesitant to heed Ritchson's advice to actually throw a real punch, even knowing that it was just aiming for the Titans vet's chest and not his face or anything. It's not the most natural instinct to get even imaginatively violent with a friendly co-worker.

Johnny Berchtold went on to explain why he only took one crack at a legitimate punch, saying:

Speaking apocryphally, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take. But if one of those shots is a punch right to Alan Ritchson's chest, maybe it's better to miss 100% of those shots. Probably makes it easier to keep one's wrist in working order.

Amusingly enough, Alan Ritchson also talked about sparring with a larger actor, which I can't imagine is the most normal turn of events for him on any given project. His massive size, in comparison to Tom Cruise, was a big part of what made him such a great casting choice.

Will we get to see Johnny Berchtold's Richard Beck punching, kicking, DDT-ing or swanton bombing any of the remaining antagonists? We'll have to tune into the finale with our Amazon Prime subscriptions to find out, all while the already renewed Season 4 is coming together behind the scenes.

It’s been just over a year since Reacher Season 2 ended, and now that Season 3 has been unleashed on the 2025 TV schedule, all seems right with the world, at least this particular fictional one. Not only is the show still as intense as ever, but fans haven't stopped swooning over shirtless Reacher footage that I'm sure no one at Amazon e-e-ever expected. As if Shirtless Ritchson isn't going to cause an uproar.

Reacher Season 3 only dropped less than a month ago, and beyond giving people Road House vibes, the latest episodes have also delivered quite a lot of shirtless Ritchson scenes, and fans still can’t get enough. Instagram user mrivanmedia shared a pec-popping compilation video of shirtless scenes with the tongue-in-cheek caption “watching Reacher for the plot,” implying that the actor is the only plot we ever really need. Give it a watch,:

I have to say, that visual feast makes for a pretty good reason to watch Reacher, even if Ritchson isn’t always shirtless. But this montage is definitely a good way to keep plot-lovers occupied in between episodes. Some couldn’t help but comment that the video seems “pretty long,” and that while the show is ennoyable all around, he is certainly an added plus. Here's a smattering of torso-appreciating viewers' comments.

• It looks like it physically pains him to wear clothes. -oohmygina
• My husband is surprised I love to watch this show with him.🤣 -cath97531
• Why is this video 8 hours long -mlgeddes93
• My screen was blurry..had to watch this several times to see it correctly!!!🔥🔥 -srrutz913
• Doesn't have a home or an income but has time and money to get his chest waxed. Of course -taren.capel

I can’t say I blame everyone (or anyone) for thinking this way, because none of them are wrong. And it makes me even happier that Reacher Season 4 is already confirmed, so there will likely be many more shirtless scenes to come, even if it’s going to be a year or two from now. And even if it means Ritchson will be stuck in the gym for who knows how much longer.

Knowing that more is on the way will make the Season 3 finale on March 27 a little bit easier to deal with, no matter what happens. Of course, the show is much more than shirtless Ritchson as Jack Reacher, but it’s as much of a plus as other perks of having an Amazon Prime subscription.

Aside from the shirtless scenes that are easy on the eyes, Reacher Season 3 has been pretty intense, and Alan Ritchson has been thrown through fake wall after fake wall, but it all looks pretty cool and real. While filming can be fun, Richson previously got real about the insanity of filming a new season and just how long the shoots can go on Instagram. The late nights and early mornings seem to be worth it, though, because the new season is definitely turning out to be a good one for many different reasons.

Reacher’s third season may be coming to an end very soon, but fans seem to be occupying themselves already. Plus, Alan Ritchson’s filmography is pretty full, and that includes his awkward death in The Hunger Games. For now, new episodes of Reacher drop on Thursdays on Prime Video!

When a franchise gets rebooted it’s not uncommon for the second version of a story to take into account and change anything that was seen as a problem the first time around. When it came to resarting Reacher as a streaming series, that meant one thing, casting somebody really big in the lead role because if there was one thing that even the author of the Jack Reacher books admits, it’s that Tom Cruise's size fell...short.

Before Alan Ritchson completely filled out the role in Reacher (available with a Prime Video subscription), Tom Cruise played the drifting badass in a pair of big-screen films. Both movies were modest hits, and author Lee Child, who created the character, tells the Independent that he thinks the first movie is actually quite good, even if he agrees with most fans that Tom Cruise wasn’t the right man for the role. Child said:

Normally, having Tom Cruise star in any movie is automatically going to make it a hot property and get people excited. Unfortunately, that was not the case with 2012’s Jack Reacher or its 2016 sequel. Fans were not excited that Cruise was playing the character because the actor, who is somewhat famous for being on the smaller side, was just not the right physical match for the character he was playing.

Movies often make changes to characters when adapting other material. A character's race or ethnicity may change depending on the actor being cast, but in those cases, we’re usually talking about changes that are not vital to a character's presentation.

The fact that Jack Reacher is, almost always, the biggest and strongest guy in the room is a big part of who Reacher is and how Lee Child wanted him to be. Take that away, and you’re just not dealing with Jack Reacher anymore. While it sounds like Tom Cruise was perfect in every other conceivable way, he just couldn’t overcome that.

Prime Video series Reacher, now in its third season, does not have that problem. Alan Ritchson is probably the biggest guy in the room most of the time, so he has the look that the character needs. Child doesn’t think the series could have done better when it came to casting, saying…

Still, following Tom Cruise is no easy feat. Ritchson says he reached out to Cruise after being cast, though as far as we know the two have not spoken. It's unclear how Cruise himself feels about the response to his playing the role.

Fans may not have been on board with Tom Cruise, but a lot of people seem to like Alan Ritchson in the role, as shown by the fact that Reacher Season 4 is already in the works.

I’ve been watching Reacher weekly this season, and it’s been a nice watercooler addition to the 2025 TV schedule. After each episode, I don’t mind talking about body count, or which characters I think are gonna throw wrinkles into the outcome, or whether it’s fair Alan Ritchson is literally that cut. This week, however, one conversation about the Lee Childs series caught my eye, and I can’t stop thinking about it.

Jason Pargin, the humor writer known for John Dies at the End, pointed out that in another era the Reacher show we access with an Amazon Prime subscription likely would have been a network TV show that threw episodes at audiences weekly without fail, even over the holidays. He joked on Threads that’s it’s not a fair shakedown fans will have only gotten 24 episodes by the end of Season 3.

Amusingly, he also name-dropped specific instances of what we would have likely seen on Reacher (so far) had it gotten the network TV. As he keeps going, I’m getting all the Grey’s Anatomy and Newhart vibes.

The tweets are really funny, and it’s no surprise they’ve landed more than 39,000 likes so far, along with thousands of response comments. I, too, saw them, and I cannot stop thinking about how the TV landscape has changed in the last twenty years, but I’m not sure I could commit to 26 episodes of Reacher.

Listen while a joke, there’s also truth to this thread. We’ve all seen the wild bottle episodes and more concepts network television has attempted over the years. For example, how many times has the hospital in Grey's Anatomy suffered a catastrophe?

Plus, cast members on tons of network TV shows have spoken out about the grueling hours being a traditional TV man or woman entails. Twenty-two to 26 episodes is probably too many, but I also think there’s an argument that could and maybe should be made that Reacher should be longer than eight episodes a season.

Yes, eight. That’s all we get once a year. It’s really fundamentally not enough. We’ll talk Reacher every day for two months and then it disappears into the ether the other 10 months each year only to pop back up when we least expect it. For the biggest, best Amazon prime shows people will keep coming back, but it’s easy for certain streaming shows to fall through the cracks. To me, a nice number like 12 episodes would be a much greater fit and could be parceled out over a spring, fall, or summer window. Some streaming shows get that. Not nearly enough do, though.

Listen, I get that budgets are determined quite differently for streaming shows, and one of the biggest pros is that shows like Reacher allow actors to be a part of big, splashy TV shows and still take a movie or side project or two a year. In a lot of ways the format works and helps shows to avoid that trap of remember “old adventures while trapped in a sinking car.” On the other hand, though, it’s hard to argue Reacher will ever have the cultural significance or legacy of something like Magnum P.I., probably because Magnum had already hit 24 episodes just a few episodes into Season 2.

When it was revealed that Dutch bodybuilder Olivier Richters was set to play Paulie in Reacher Season 3, it was clear that he was a great pick for the role. In the book Persuader, Paulie is a massive man (yes, he’s even bigger than Reacher) who works for Beck and Quinn, and he notably has an epic fight with Reacher. Truly, Richters is amazing in the role, and he towers over everyone. So, I had to ask if they used any visual tricks to make him look even larger, and the actor hilariously told me no.

You can see when watching Reacher that visual tricks and clever framing are used to make Alan Ritchson look even bigger than he already is. However, when I asked Olivier Richters if they used anything like that for Paulie, he was quick to laugh and say, “No.” His co-star Brian Tee – who plays this season’s big bad Xavier Quinn – also quipped:

That totally makes sense, too. Olivier Richters is massive. For reference, he’s 7’2”, and Alan Ritchson is 6’3”, so without even trying, the bodybuilder towers over Reacher’s star.

That’s why visual tricks were not necessary, and the Paulie actor took that as a compliment, telling me:

While Alan Ritchson stays under 10% body fat and is a very large guy, he’s by no means a giant. Plenty of people are around six feet tall, so it makes sense that occasionally, Reacher uses camera and framing tricks to make him look even bigger than he is.

That wasn’t necessary for Richters, and while all three actors I interviewed were laughing, Anthony Michael Hall proved that by saying:

I had a similar thought when I started watching the season of Reacher that’s airing on the 2025 TV schedule with my Amazon Prime subscription. Paulie is such a great and important presence on the show, and he’s one of the biggest physical adversaries the titular character has faced. And Richters is able to fill those shoes easily, thanks to his already massive physique.

As he hilariously said, no visual tricks were needed because:

You know what? That’s so fair. There’s really no need to make him look bigger on screen when he’s already massive. In turn, that makes the part he plays in Reacher even more impressive!

Now, I’m somehow more excited to watch Olivier Richters go head-to-head with Alan Ritchson’s Reacher because we know that when it comes to Paulie, what we see is exactly what we get, no camera ticks necessary.

Whoever was in charge of Reacher’s casting at Amazon-MGM Studios should get a raise every season. I don’t think fans watching the third season play out admist the 2025 TV schedule would disagree, especially since it’s a consistent excuse to stare at the baffling perfection that is Alan Ritchson's impressive physique.

But instead of merely wondering how the Titans vet isn’t one of ILM’s finest creations, the viewing public is very much invested in the "plot" for Reacher’s latest official clip to hit the internet. Someone even made a Henry Cavill comparison that actually makes a lot of sense.

That Shirtless Reacher Clip Sure Has Inspired Some Strong Feelings

I think we can all admit you clicked into this story for one thing, regardless of whether or not your Prime Video subscription is current: you wanted to see Alan Ritchson's shirtless Reacher footage. No shame in that game, and I’m about to deliver on that. But if you’re not looking to get your heart pumping too hard in the morning, it must be said that the man-mountain that is Mr. Ritchson is also pants-free in the clip below:

It's no doubt a natural law that Alan Ritchson is so physically impressive that even those who aren't attracted to him have to admire the work he’s put into his physique. Not to mention, if you’re a dyed-in-the-wool stan of this Prime Video series, Reacher’s running joke about gym time is an even greater laugh as the actor bulks up even more from year to year.

The reactions on social media seen below reflect all of the above, while also posing some serious hypotheticals:

• “I wish they would create a show where all he did was walk around in boxer briefs. No other characters. Just him. If there needs to be dialogue then just let him talk about himself." - @builtbymiguel
• “I think I need to watch this show for the plot..." - @juaniseml
• “Now I know why my 72 year old mother binged this show " - @celenesc13
• “Can't blame him, if I get this type of physique I also gonna roam naked” – @madridista_raj8
• “If thats what merde looks like, i'll take it every day 😂” - @runwaysontvshows
• “I think he’d be better than a weighted blanket. Yeah, more than likely.” - @imogene821

Seriously, the more someone looks at Alan Ritchson, the more they’re probably looking for the line where the human suit zips up. And if you thought that was the extent of the unhinged thoughts from the crowd, there’s one comparison I hadn’t thought to make - but continues to paint the man in an impressive light. Apologies to anyone who shares Mr. Ritchson's lack of sleep after the example we're about to discuss.

Henry Cavill’s Appearance With Alan Ritchson In The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare Brings Up Something Interesting

I’ll admit that even after covering The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare review, I almost forgot that Ritchson co-starred with fellow beefcake Henry Cavill in the World War II thrill ride. Sure enough people who watch the man’s career with a keen eye remembered that fact much quicker, especially with the insight commenter “andreea.readss” provided.

Take a look at the photo directly above before reading that feedback, and prepare to be blown away:

As if people didn’t already have the image of Alan Ritchson towering over them in a friendly manner embedded in their heads, there’s now a new scenario to dream about. Already you’re probably picturing The Witcher and Man of Steel vet standing in front of you. And what's that massive shadow suddenly darkening the view? It's just Reacher’s leading man.

It is worth noting that Alan Ritchson’s series is in the midst of its third season, and with a fourth already greenlit for the near future. Considering that same platform is where Henry Cavill’s Voltron movie is set up, as well as his Warhammer 40K adaptation, it could be a battle of the beefcakes fighting for viewers' attention.

The winners, naturally, are the viewing public and Amazon-MGM Studios executives. And if you'd like to keep winning, keep in mind that Reacher Season 3 is airing on Prime Video, with new episodes every Thursday.

Spoilers for Reacher Season 3, Episode 4 – “Dominique” – are ahead. If you have not seen the episode yet, you can stream it with an Amazon Prime subscription and catch new episodes on Thursdays.

Following Reacher’s epic three-episode return on the 2025 TV schedule, its fourth episode gave us a lot of lore to think on. This episode, titled “Dominique,” told us the story of Reacher’s former colleague Dominique Kohl, and it revealed the personal reason behind the titular character’s motivation for taking on the gig Season 3 is based around. It’s a vital episode, and Kohl is a vital character, as Alan Ritchson explained when he told me why Mariah Robinson’s performance as her “saved the entire season.”

I need to make this abundantly clear: Dominique Kohl is vital to Reacher’s story this season. In this flashback episode, it’s revealed that the two of them were working on a mission to take down Xavier Quinn. When they think they have him, Reacher sends Kohl to get him by herself, and that results in her death. So, Alan Ritchson’s character is out for revenge, and that becomes obvious, thanks to his performance and Robinson’s as Dominique.

Explaining that point further, Ritchson told me:

Dominique Kohl is a vital piece of Reacher’s mythology; she was his equal, and her death is a tragic example of the disastrous things that have happened on these dangerous missions. It's also an example of Reacher failing, and that guilt is driving him this season.

To succeed in showing us all that, Robinson had to make us love and respect Dominique immediately, which she did. She also had to prove that she was Reacher’s equal in terms of skill, and she did. This meant she had to crush the military dialogue and pull at our heartstrings, which was no easy task, as Ritchson explained:

This is why the actress saved the season for Ritchson. He told me her talents made Episode 4 special. And to me, this story gave us the heartbeat for the whole season. It was a heavy lift, but she pulled it off with grace, as the Reacher star explained:

While being thrown into walls and fighting a 7’2” man this season is extra hard, Ritchson also didn’t downplay how challenging learning expositional dialogue and jargon can be.

Robinson had to do a lot of that alongside him to pull off this major episode about Reacher’s past, and the actor was blown away by how well she did it, saying:

So, next time you watch this great Amazon Prime show, while you appreciate the action, also appreciate the other challenging elements of Reacher – like the technical dialogue and emotional beats. Alan Ritchson sure does, and I do too, especially after seeing Mariah Robinson smash her role as Dominique Kohl.

She was only in one episode, but in less than an hour, I fell in love with her, understood her deep connection to Reacher, and totally got why her death motivated Alan Ritchson’s character to take on the dangerous job he’s working right now.

You know what they say: she might be gone, but she'll never be forgotten.

It’s finally, officially, happening. Maria Sten’s Reacher spinoff, Neagley, is in production and a few new cast members have been announced! With Nick Santora, the creator of Reacher, and Nicholas Wootton serving as co-creators and running the show, as well as an enticing story, Neagley truly sounds like it will be epic, and the lead actress’s post about it officially happening has me all kinds of excited.

Maria Sten Announced That ‘Neagley Is Happening’

One week after Reacher Season 3 premiered on the 2025 TV schedule, Neagley got this massive update.

Maria Sten posted a photo on her Instagram of her holding a clapperboard that says “Neagley” in big bold red letters. She also wrote a sweet message about how excited she is to work on the show, explaining in the caption:

The show will follow the titular P.I. after a friend of hers dies in a mysterious accident. Its logline (via Variety) explained that after Neagley learns about this, “she becomes hell-bent on justice.” It also noted that “using everything she’s learned from Jack Reacher and her time as a member of the 110 Special Investigators, Neagley puts herself on a dangerous path to uncover a menacing evil.”

Well, I’m 110% in. After rumors about Neagley and months of waiting for updates, I’m thrilled by this new info, and I can’t wait to learn more.

Maria Sten’s Neagley Co-Stars Were Also Announced

On top of Sten’s enthusiastic message about the show, she also posted a screenshot of Variety’s story regarding five actors being cast in series regular roles.

Damon Herriman, who is best known for his work on Justified, will play Lawrence Cole. Meanwhile, Greyston Holt – who you might recognize from The Night Agent – will portray Detective Hudson Riley. Adding to that, Matthew Del Negro, who worked on Teen Wolf and Mayor of Kingstown, is set to be Pierce Woodrow. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina star Adeline Rudolph has also been cast as Renee, while Jasper Jones will play Keno.

Details on their characters are unknown right now, however, this is a solid ensemble that will be joining Sten for Neagley. Plus, after seeing three seasons of Reacher’s rotating cast (you can see them too with an Amazon Prime subscription), I’m confident that this team can build a solid group of actors to tell another action-packed story.

Only time will tell if Neagley can live up to her predecessor and join the ranks of Amazon Prime’s best shows. However, these updates have me stoked about what’s to come, and I’m looking forward to seeing Maria Sten as her badass character. So, bring it on!

Normally, Alan Ritchson is the biggest guy on Reacher. However, that isn’t the case this season. In Reacher Season 3, the titular character will face off against a massive henchman named Paulie. Now, it turns out, Ritchson took a punch going up against his 7’2” co-star, and his story about it is giving big Road House energy.

Before we get into this Road House comparison, first you need to read Ritchson’s description of fighting his huge co-star Olivier Richters. In the book-to-screen adaption of Lee Child’s Persuader, Reacher has to face off against the gargantuan guy Paulie, and in the show, Richters plays that character. During an interview with Eammon Jacobs, Ritchson opened up about pulling these massive fights off with a massive co-star, explaining:

I’d imagine taking a punch from a guy like that hurt just as much – if not worse – than being thrown into walls – which has happened to the Fast X actor. Plus, you have to take into account that Reacher’s leading man is 6’3” while Richters is 7’2”. That’s a pretty massive difference, which makes the idea of him getting punched by his colleague even more intimidating.

That’s what brings me to Road House. For those who might not remember, when this remake (which you can stream with an Amazon Prime subscription) came out last year, stories were flying around about Jake Gyllenhaal getting “clocked” by Conor McGregor while they filmed. That alone is enough to draw comparisons.

However, both McGregor and Richters have made careers out of being strong men – McGregor is an MMA fighter while Richters is a bodybuilder – so, I think it’s safe to say they’re two of the last people you’d want to take a hit from in a scene. However, both Ritchson and Gyllenhaal took them.

It paid off in Road House, and the Reacher star is hoping that will be the case for his show too, as he explained:

Alan Ritchson also said his co-star trained for four months to prepare for these fights, and it would appear that hard work paid off big time. Noting how excited he is about the season of Reacher that’s about to premiere on the 2025 TV schedule, the show’s leading man teased:

Well, folks, it sounds like we’re in for an action-packed ride when Reacher Season 3 premieres on Prime Video this Thursday, February 20.

We’ve been guaranteed some epic fights, and we’ll get to see Alan Ritchson’s character take on his (literally) biggest adversary yet, and it sounds like we won’t want to miss one second of it.

For everyone who absolutely loves watching shit get handled by someone who doesn’t take any additional shit from anyone, then Reacher Season 3 may be the most anticipated show on the 2025 TV schedule. Across the first two seasons, Alan Ritchson’s mission-focused drifter successfully beat the crap out of all opposing forces, with his biceps and abs often displayed as bones are being shattered. Yet do we ever see Reacher in a gym or exercising? Not a chance.

Star Alan Ritchson is definitely aware that fans joking question the military vet’s ability to stay so bulked and hulking without an ample workout regimen taking up part of his daily activities. And it’s an especially jarring detail, since Ritchson himself has to work his ass off to keep the character’s intimidating look intact. When asked about it by our sister site GamesRadar+, the Titans alum made it clear how impossible it would be to look like Reacher without maximum efforts. In his words:

Not to question Ritchson's claims there, but I'm pretty sure even after an endless number of hours of training, I would still need ample amounts of surgery and CGI animation to look anything like Reacher. Unless there's a Season 3 sequence where he's ladi out in bed from pulling all the muscles in his stomach and thighs. That's my Reacher moment.

Anyway, just in case anyone had any doubts, the Fast X co-star did indeed confirm that he works out "constantly," and previously shared the inspiring eight-word mantra he uses to keep himself motivated. And except for an unseemly fascination with cookies, is pretty good about maintaning a healthy diet, likely without pounding beers the way Reacher does, either.

Not that the live-action TV series is the absolute source of the disparity between Reacher's body mass and his gym routines. As Alan Ritchson pointed out, the guy who wrote the source material was also cheeky about the drifter magically staying so musclebound.

Now, would it be amusing to watch a season of Reacher with someone a bit lumpier and less stoic in the main role? Absolutely. I'd even love to see some kind of parody with someone far less chiseled in the main role. To offer any suggestions beyond myself would just sound mean. And to offer myself as a suggestion would just sound....perfect. Wait, no. I don't think I could handle any rib-breaking stunts that aren't specifically about barbecue ribs.

Check out the big Reacher Season 3 trailer, which doesn't exactly skimp on moments of badassery.

The wait is almost over, though, as Alan Ritchson's Reacher will soon headbutt its way into our lives when Season 3 premieres on Thursday, February 20, for fans with Amazon Prime subscriptions.

One of the coolest Easter Eggs you can find in a movie based on a book is a cameo by the person who wrote the source material. However, sometimes it is even more fun when a renowned author makes an appearance in a movie that they had no creative involvement with. Take a look at our favorite examples of both kinds.

S.E. Hinton (The Outsiders)

S.E. Hinton (born Susan Eloise) made a striking debut as a writer in 1967, and at only 18 years old, with her groundbreaking coming-of-age novel, The Outsiders. She went on to appear in the 1987 adaptation (one of the best Francis Ford Coppola movies) as a nurse.

Cheryl Strayed (Wild)

Podcaster Cheryl Strayed chronicled her life-changing woodland hike in 1995 in her 2012 memoir, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, which was adapted into a movie starring Reese Witherspoon two years later. Not only does the author appear at the beginning of the film as wa oman who drops the onscreen Strayed off at a motel but her real-life daughter, Bobbi Strayed Lindstrom, also plays her younger self.

Lee Child (Jack Reacher)

In the first screen adaptation of Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels from 2012, the author plays a cop who gives the titular heroic drifter (played by Tom Cruise) a skeptical look. The English writer would later appear in 2016's Jack Reacher: Never Look Back as a TSA agent and was seen in Amazon Prime's Reacher Season 1 finale walking past Alan Ritchson as he walks into a diner.

Hunter S. Thompson (Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas)

Johnny Depp starred in two adaptations of Hunter S. Thompson's memoirs: 1998's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and The Rum Diary from 2011. While his death in 2005 prevented him from appearing in the latter, the influential gonzo journalist does have a brief cameo in the former as an expressionless patron at a rowdy party.

Kathryn Stockett (The Help)

Kathryn Stockett's 2009 debut novel The Help is a bestseller that was made into an Academy Award-winning film told from the perspective of Black maids working for middle-class white families in 1960s Mississippi. In addition to cast members Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, and Emma Stone, the author herself would make a brief appearance as a housewife attending a meeting.

Ken Kesey (Even Cowgirls Get The Blues)

Tom Robbins had a pivotal role in Gus Van Sant's Uma Thurman-led adaptation of his novel, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, as its narrator. The most surprising appearance by a writer in the 1993 road dramedy was countercultural novelist and essayist Ken Kesey as the central character's father.

Greg Behrendt (He’s Just Not That Into You)

Comedian Greg Behrendt was working as a script doctor for HBO's Sex and the City when he came up with the idea for He's Just Not That Into You, which he co-authored with Liz Tuccillo. The bestselling self-help book was adapted into a dramatized ensemble rom-com in which Behrendt appears as the minister at a wedding.

Amy Tan (The Joy Luck Club)

Amy Tan's influential 1989 novel, The Joy Luck Club, consists of various vignettes each from the perspective of a different woman in a Chinese family. The author can be spotted during the party scene at the beginning of the 1993 adaptation, which is also one of Ming-Na Wen's best movies.

Mar­shall McLuhan (Annie Hall)

In one memorable scene from Best Picture Oscar winner Annie Hall, Alvy Singer (Woody Allen) has an argument with a movie theater patron about his expertise in the work of media theorist Marshall McLuhan. To get him to pipe down, Alvy asks the real McLuhan to step in and bring the stranger down a size, at which point Alvy address the camera and says, "Boy, if life were only like this."

John Le Carre (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy)

Some of the best spy movies (and TV shows) in recent memory have been inspired by the work of John Le Carre, such as his 1974 novel, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. The suspense master makes a brief appearance in the 2011 film adaptation as a party guest.

Stephen King (Pet Semetary)

There have been numerous memorable Stephen King appearances in movies and TV shows based on his storied bibliography. One of the most famous comes from the 1989 adaptation of Pet Sematary, in which he goes pretty far against type to play a priest presiding over the funeral for Missy Dandridge (Susan Blommaert).

Irvine Welsh (Trainspotting)

In one of the best movies of the 1990s, director Danny Boyle's 1996 dramedy Trainspotting, Renton (Ewan McGregor) seeks "one more hit" before going clean from a dealer named Mikey Forrester, who has nothing to offer him but a couple of suppositories. The grinning Forrester is actually played by Irvine Welsh, the Scottish author who wrote the original novel.

Sapphire (Precious: Based On The Novel "Push" By Sapphire)

To avoid confusion with another 2009 movie called Push, the adaptation of Sapphire's 1996 novel Push was named after its central character but also acknowledges the source material with the full title, Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire. The author (née Ramona Lofton) can also be spotted in the heavy, Academy Award-winning drama about an abused teen (played by Gabourey Sidibe) playing a daycare center employee near the end of the film.

Kurt Vonnegut (Back To School)

Some of Rodney Dangerfield's best one-liners can be found in his 1986 comedy Back to School, which is also known for its brief but hilarious cameo by Kurt Vonnegut. The satirical novelist shows up to see the wealthy Thornton Melon (Dangerfield) right after his son, Jason (Keith Gordon), confronts him about how he is going to write a midterm paper about the author, which Melon still ends up failing.

Gore Vidal (Gattaca)

In addition to his influential and thought-provoking exploits as a writer, Gore Vidal also worked as an actor from time to time. One of his most memorable roles comes from one of the best '90s sci-fi movies, 1997's Gattaca, in which he plays Director Josef.

Stephenie Meyer (Twilight)

It could be safe to assume that Stephanie Meyer is portraying herself in the 2008 premiere installment of the Twilight movies, in which she can be seen briefly as a writer sitting at the bar in the Carver Cafe typing away at her laptop. The author would also appear in the vampire movies' penultimate entry, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 as a guest at the wedding of Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson).

Salman Rushdie (Bridget Jones’s Diary)

In the classic rom-com, 2001's Bridget Jones's Diary, the title character (Renée Zellweger) is at a book launch party where she spots novelist Salman Rushdie speaking with a group of other authors. She tries to subtly implement herself into the conversation when the writer courteously asks for her opinion, to which she awkwardly asks where the restroom is.

Charles Bukowski (Barfly)

Director Barbet Schroeder's 1987 dramedy Barfly follows the L.A. exploits of a heavy drinker named Henry Chinaski, played by Mickey Rourke. The screenplay was written by Charles Bukowski, who based the story on his own life experiences and the author also makes an appearance in the film as, indeed, a barfly.

Colleen Hoover (It Ends With Us)

One of the most talked about 2024 movies adapted from a novel was the romantic drama It Ends With Us, starring Blake Lively. The source material comes from author Colleen Hoover who revealed in an interview with E! that she makes a brief cameo in the film as a party guest but was sure to add that she found the 12-hour shoot to be quite taxing.

Stan Lee (Mallrats)

Highly influential, beloved comic book writer Stan Lee was, just about, the king of cameos, having appeared in countless Marvel movies until his passing in 2018. However, before starring in brief roles in films based on his work, he appeared as himself in a movie that celebrates superhero culture through satirical conversation, Kevin Smith's 1995 comedy Mallrats, in which he offers Brodie (Jason Lee) some much-needed romantic advice.

Maya Angelou (Poetic Justice)

How fitting that a movie called Poetic Justice features a cameo appearance by one of the most influential poets of the 20th Century. Maya Angelou – known for writing "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," among many other famous works – plays Aunt June in director John Singleton's 1993 romantic drama starring Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur.

Jean Shepherd (A Christmas Story)

One of the all-time greatest Christmas movies, 1983's A Christmas Story, was inspired by Jean Shepherd's semi-autobiographical novel In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash. Not only did the humorist and radio personality also narrate director Bob Clark's timeless comedy but he even makes a brief cameo during the scene at the mall as a man waiting in line with his child to see Santa Claus.

John Irving (The World According To Garp)

Starring Robin Williams, 1982's The World According to Garp is a dramedy about a writer grappling with his wife's infidelity and the fame of his feminist activist mother. The Academy Award-nominated film is based on the novel by John Irving, who also makes a cameo in the film as a referee for a scene taking place at a wrestling match.

Peter Benchley (Jaws)

One can only imagine what it must have felt like to be the author of the book that inspired the highest-grossing movie in history (at the time), which was also later deemed the first Hollywood blockbuster. Of course, not only did Peter Benchley write the source material for director Steven Spielberg's 1975 horror movie classic, Jaws, but he is also in it, appearing as a TV field reporter visiting the Amity Island beach early on.

Veronica Roth (Divergent)

Veronica Roth, author of the coming-of-age dystopian young adult novel series that inspired the Divergent movies, makes an appearance in the first installment from 2014 that is a bit cooler than most movie cameos that authors can claim. She can be spotted during the zipline scene as an unnamed member of the Dauntless faction.

Michael Crichton (The Andromeda Strain)

The first adaptation of a Michael Crichton novel would also mark the first and last time he appeared in an onscreen acting role. The Jurassic Park author and ER creator has an uncredited cameo in 1971's sci-fi pandemic drama The Andromeda Strain as "Bearded Surgeon."

Emily Giffin (Something Borrowed)

The 2011 rom-com Something Borrowed is inspired by the 2004 novel of the same name by Emily Giffin, who appears as a woman eavesdropping on a conversation between Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Marcus (Steve Howey) on park benches. In a TikTok video, the author revealed that the book her character is reading is the 2005 sequel to Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and that her cameo had to be shortened in a post because she addressed the camera in every take.

James Dickey (Deliverance)

The best-known work of author James Dickey is Deliverance, which was adapted into an acclaimed film two years later. The author would appear at the end of the harrowing thriller about four men terrorized by savage locals on a canoe trip as Sherriff Bullard, who warns Jon Voight's character to leave and never come back.

Fannie Flagg (Fried Green Tomatoes)

Fannie Flagg received an Academy Award nomination for co-writing the screenplay for the 1991 adaptation of her 1987 novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, which was shortened to just Fried Green Tomatoes. The author, comedian, and frequent Match Game panelist also appears in the acclaimed dramedy as a self-help guru helping women "get that spark back" into their marriages.

William Peter Blatty (The Exorcist)

One of the most iconic examples of a horror movie based on a true story is 1973's The Exorcist, which used William Peter Blatty's novel inspired by an alleged possession as its basis. The author (who later directed 1990's underrated sequel, The Exorcist III) also briefly appears in the classic thriller as a man speaking Burke Dennings (Jack MacGowran) on the set of Chris MacNeil's (Ellen Burstyn) movie.

Truman Capote (Murder By Death)

The 1976 comedic whodunnit Murder By Death boasts one of the best ensemble casts in a movie, which even includes Truman Capote. The author of such iconic works as In Cold Blood and Breakfast at Tiffany's plays eccentric aristocrat Lionel Twain, who gathers a group of detectives and their guests for a party at his luxurious estate, which goes terribly.

Graham Greene (Day For Night)

In the 1973 French romantic dramedy Day for Night, writer Graham Greene makes a brief appearance as an insurance agent. According to a DVD special feature, director and star, François Truffaut was not told until after the fact that the role was played by the author, which disappointed him because he was a great admirer of his work.

We are getting closer to the February release date of Reacher Season 3, available to action junkies who have an Amazon Prime Video subscription. And honestly, this series that adapts the books of the famous Lee Child is worth the price of admission for the streaming service, alone. Even though Tom Cruise tried to play wandering ass-kicker Jack Reacher in the movies before, it’s the presence of Alan Ritchson in the title role that makes the first two seasons of Reacher really sing. He was born to play Jack Reacher. So leave it to him to drop the first full trailer for the anticipated Season 3 on his social media feed. Watch it at the top of this page.

We have been covering the news on Reacher Season 3 since the moment the upcoming chapter was greenlit by Amazon Prime more than one year ago today. Personally, I’m a huge fan of the Lee Child book that was chosen as the source material for this upcoming season. It’s called Persuader, and is worth the read if you want to get a sense of the type of adventure that awaits Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson) this time out.

But you can also get the plot details from this new trailer. Basically, Reacher is approached by federal agents who are investigating a rug importer (played by Anthony Michael Hall) who likely is up to much shadier affairs. Reacher is asked by these agents and asked to go undercover, mainly because they lost a fellow agent who had infiltrated an isolated mansion weeks ago.

But Reacher has a different reason for getting involved. As is revealed in this new trailer, the person pulling the strings on the entire operation is someone that Reacher thought he killed, years ago. This traces back to Reacher’s military days. And fans of the Lee Child books know that Reacher doesn’t like leaving any dangling ends. So he’s going to settle this score, come hell or high water.

One reason I love the choice of Persuader for Reacher Season 3 is that, after Bad Luck and Trouble for Season 2, this is a return to a solo Reacher assignment. We get glimpses of the supporting character Frances Neagley (Maria Sten), but as Neagley wasn’t in this book, this largely is to keep her on people’s radars until the new show arrives. What we also get in this new trailer is continued teasing of the standoff between Reacher and the man-mountain known as Paulie. The villain is a bodyguard on the mansion grounds, and it leads to one of the most vicious fist fights in any Lee Child book. I only pray that the show does the battle justice. It’s teased in the very last shots of the trailer above.

The third season of Reacher will run for eight episodes, and will roll out weekly, with the first three episodes premiering on Thursday, February 20. Subsequent episodes will then drop every Thursday through March 27, 2025, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. Ready for even more good news? It already has been announced that Reacher received an early renewal for a fourth season, which will begin shooting this year. Bring it on!

I told you guys. As a fan of the Lee Child books featuring Jack Reacher, and book Persuader in particular, I teased the fact that there is a fight involving Reacher and a giant named Paulie that has the potential to be one of the wildest things ever shown on television. So kudos to Amazon Prime Video for leading with the fight in the first trailer for Reacher Season 3… and for also finally revealing that the new season will debut on Prime Video on February 20.

Press play on the video above for your first official look at Reacher Season 3.

Amazon Prime Video revealed that Reacher Season 3 will deliver three brand new episodes beginning on Feb. 20, with subsequent episodes arriving once a week through March. And truthfully, I think that’s the way to do it. Shows like The Penguin have demonstrated how much fan interest and online conversation can be generated when everyone is watching a show at the same time, and caught up on the story. It defeats the binge, but it makes each new episode an event.

Which helps, because the story in Persuader – the book being adapted for Reacher Season 3 – is one of the more engaging Reacher narratives Lee Child has penned. Mainly set off the coast of Maine (in the book, at least), this story finds wandering beast Jack Reacher going undercover at the mansion of a shady arms dealer (Anthony Michael Hall) who may be involved in the kidnapping of a DEA agent.

Ever since I found out that Amazon Prime Video chose Persuader as the book to adapt for Reacher Season 3, I have been telling CinemaBlend readers that the fight between Reacher and a character named Paulie was primed to be an all-timer. Paulie is a hired bodyguard for Hall’s character, Zachary Beck. And from the moment he meets Reacher, the two alpha dogs hate each other. Without spoiling anything, these two eventually face off, and as you can see in the trailer, Alan Ritchson looks to be half the size of Olivier Richters, the bodybuilder cast as Paulie.

Thankfully, Alan Ritchson does an incredible amount of work on his own physique, so much so that he has an 8-word mantra that motivates him to train, and he carries a ridiculously low percentage of body fat. This is a big reason why Prime Video already has renewed Reacher Season 4, though we aren’t sure what book will be used for the source material. Of course, in addition to that story, we also have a Reacher spinoff tapped for Maria Sten’s character, Frances Neagley, so fans will be able to stay in the Reacher universe for years to come.

While you are waiting, make sure that you are taking full advantage of your Prime Video subscription by using it to watch some of the best movies and TV series streaming on the service. Personally, I’ll be using it to prep for the return of Invincible, which might deliver as many brutal fights as Reacher versus Paulie. Maybe. 

It has been far too long since Jack Reacher beat some dudes to a pulp on my television set. Almost a full calendar year has passed since we wrapped on watching Reacher Season 2, easily one of the best shows available on Prime Video. And while there has been plenty of activity in the world of Reacher, we haven’t received any new episodes to enjoy. We know that Reacher Season 3 will be arriving in 2025, and that it will be an adaptation of the Lee Child book Persuader. But all we are doing is sitting around and waiting, while Reacher star Alan Ritchson spends his off time getting as bulky as possible. Because he needs to look like Reacher. It’s kind of insane.

Alan Ritchson posts on Instagram often. In the above reel, he’s out for a run with his boys. Ritchson takes his fitness routine very seriously. We have written on it often, because it’s so impressive. In the video, Ritchson reveals his 8-word mantra that keeps him focused with regard to his training. He told his followers:

Amen. It’s very clear that Alan Ritchson believes that, and he lives his life by that mantra. It has allowed him to stay in top physical shape as he plays Jack Reacher, or team up for an action movie with the icon, Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, not everyone can adhere to this mantra. This is what separates Ritchson from others. Because, as his comment section on Instagram points out:

Amen to that, as well. I feel that, my friend. Far more than I do the concept of doing hill sprints in the heat, like Alan Ritchson does with his kids. That image also struck one of Ritchson’s followers, and Reacher fans, as funny. Or terrifying. They said:

I’m not sure what I’d do. I’m not ruling out crawling into the fetal position and praying that Reacher isn’t looking for me. Most of the people commenting on Ritchson’s workout post just admire the results, as this person posted:

Not a lie. These comments cracked me up. The rest seem to be focused on upcoming seasons of Reacher, and a lot of people want him to step into the role of Batman in James Gunn’s DCU. I can see that. However, I think that we are a long way off from that happening, as Gunn currently is immersed in prepping his Superman movie, and has a full slate of announced projects that likely keep pushing the planned The Brave and the Bold down the line of upcoming DC movies. That just means that Ritchson, if he takes the gig, will have plenty of time to keep playing Jack Reacher. And to keep doing hill sprints. While the rest of us eat queso.

In a complete no-brainer of a move, Amazon Prime Video recently renewed this hit series Reacher for a fourth season. In the process, it was confirmed that Reacher Season 3, which had been filming for months, is now due on the streaming service sometime in 2025. There’s no reason for Prime Video not to continue the hype train for Reacher. It’s easily one of the best dramas available on Prime Video, and the studio seems so confident in the series that they also greenlit a spinoff show that will be structured around Reacher’s longtime military colleague Frances Neagley, played by Maria Sten. We know that Reacher Season 3 will tackle the Lee Child book Persuader. Looking ahead to Reacher Season 4, I think it’s time to tackle one of the strongest story arcs in the long running Lee Child series.

Reacher Season 4 should adapt Lee Child’s book 61 Hours, leading right into Reacher Season 5 doing the follow up, Worth Dying For.

Stop reading now if you don’t want any details about the stories that Lee Child cooks up in these books. But the reason why 61 Hours and Worth Dying For stand out is because it’s one of the first times that the Reacher novels followed strict continuity, leaving 61 Hours off on a cliffhanger that needed to be resolved in Worth Dying For. Readers had to wait a full year to see how the story would be resolved. If Prime Video planned accordingly, they could film the bulk of Reacher Seasons 4 and 5, and space out the release dates fairly close, so the wait wouldn’t be quite as difficult.

And I’m sorry, Alan Ritchson, but because of the snowy locale of this particular plotline, it probably means you will still be filming Reacher in Canada. And we know how much you love that.

The Lee Child Reacher stories pride themselves on shifting locations and sending Jack Reacher wandering around the country – and sometimes the globe – to deliver acts of vengeance. 61 Hours begins with Reacher riding a bus filled with senior citizens through snowy South Dakota, ending up in the town of Bolton after the bus skids and crashes. While there, Reacher encounters an innocent librarian who’s preparing to testify against a local crime lord named Plato… so long as she can stay alive long enough to deliver her testimony.

The plot of 61 Hours delivers all the normal Reacher highlights, including that phenomenal conclusion that left readers guessing. I’ll leave off all the details, in case you want to read the book yourself (and I highly recommend doing that). But also, given the fact that Maria Sten’s Neagley is going to branch out into her own show, it’s during 61 Hours that we first meet Major Susan Turner, commanding officer of Reacher’s old unit who will become a recurring figure in seminal stories that include Never Go Back.

That’s the story that Tom Cruise tried to tackle in his second Jack Reacher movie. But it was too soon in the character’s arc. Too much needed to be developed before audiences were dropped into Never Go Back. The Amazon Prime Video series is taking its time to lay the groundwork. Meaning that Alan Ritchson might one day be able to put his own stamps on the adaptations of One Shot, Never Go Back, and plenty more.

We’re getting ahead of ourselves. There are numerous Lee Child books that could sustain a season of Reacher. And I’m just happy that Reacher Season 4 has been confirmed. But tell me that it’s going to adapt 61 Hours, and I’ll leap through the roof, then settle in for the long wait for it to become a reality on my screen.

For the past few years, Alan Ritchson has successfully led a streaming adaptation of Lee Child’s beloved Jack Reacher books. Ahead of Reacher Season 3 seeing the actor back in action in the TV series, Ritchson is switching gears to star in another one of Hollywood’s upcoming book adaptations with a Nicholas Sparks romance. Amidst the news of the project, the actor shared a moving story about watching The Notebook for the first time.

Reacher’s Alan Ritchson Is Set To Star In A Nicholas Sparks Adaptation

Just last week, Nicholas Sparks released his latest novel, Counting Miracles, and it’s already among the New York Times bestseller list. Counting Miracles is about a former Army Ranger named Tanner Hughes who returns to his hometown in Asheboro, North Carolina to find the father he never knew. During his search, he meets a doctor and single mother named Kaitlyn Cooper, whom he finds an instant connection with.

Per Variety, Ritchson is set to play Tanner in a Counting Miracles movie along with producing the project. The film is part of a three-picture deal Alan Ritchson signed with Amazon MGM Studios. From how it sounds, once the movie has been made, those with an Amazon subscription will be able to see this in-the-works romance flick!

Ritchson Shares Sweet Story About Watching The Notebook

Counting Miracles sounds like a solid role for Alan Ritchson to tackle, and we have zero worries he’ll be a good lead in a romance. (It also doesn’t hurt that he puts so much work into his health that he apparently has 10 percent body fat). But the actor shared the personal reason why he wanted to star in a Nicholas Sparks adaptation on his Instagram as the news came out, and it’s a sweet story.

While the actor is very successful today, he started by saying when he first moved to Los Angeles and was pursuing acting, it wasn’t easy by any means. He said each job was “a lifeline”. Here’s what he said next in his own words:

While The Notebook is thought of as one of the best movies of the 2000s, when it came out, it certainly had a reputation of being simply a “chick flick.” Here’s how his viewing went:

While his fiancée actually dozed off while watching the romantic drama, Ritchson was completely locked up until the bittersweet ending where the two romantic leads literally die together as elderly people in a retirement community. Sufficed to say, the actor was moved, and he’s excited to be the star of a Sparks adaptation. He also said this:

It’s a great addition to Ritchson’s upcoming projects which includes starring with Arnold Schwartzenegger in a Christmas movie and returning for the next Fast and the Furious. Well, now we cannot wait for Counting Miracles, too!

The television spinoff. It’s hard to pull off. For every Frasier, which successfully moved Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) from the cozy confines of the Boston bar Cheers to Seattle, there’s a laundry list of failed TV continuations. Joey couldn’t pick up the slack in the wake of Friends.We all loved 21 Jump Street (and even the movie that spoofed it), but no one needed Richard Greico to keep going with Booker. And now that it has been confirmed that the popular Prime Video thriller Reacher is getting a spinoff show for supporting character Frances Neagley, I’m personally worrying that we are heading down the path toward The Ropers, and not a necessary continuation like Better Call Saul.

Deadline now confirms what they initially reported, that Reacher co-star Maria Sten will take her character Frances Neagley to her own show, tentatively titled Neagley. The brains behind the Reacher show are developing Neagley, with executive producer and showrunner Nick Santora teaming with his Prison Break colleague Nicholas Wootton to bring this new show to Prime Video. It’s noted in the story that Alan Ritchson is expected to appear in Neagley. They even go so far as to say that the upcoming Reacher Season 3, which adapts a Lee Child book that Neagley’s not a part of, could be used to set up the spinoff.

That’s where I, as a diehard fan of the Lee Child series of Jack Reacher books, start to grow a tiny bit concerned. Persuader, the book on which Reacher Season 3 will be based, is an airtight thriller set off the coast of Maine, with Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson) infiltrating a criminal organization to help locate and possibly retrieve a kidnapped federal agent. It’s a textbook example of Reacher having to lone-wolf it. Shoe-horning Neagley into the story because you want to set up a spinoff is the first sign of artistic compromise, instead of doing what’s right for the story.

It was this response, as part of the Deadline article, that made me worry that Neagley is working against the impact of the character. Speaking about the opportunity to play Frances Neagley in a spinoff show, Maria Sten said:

Here’s the thing, though. As much as I like Maria Sten in the part – and I do think she’s an excellent choice to play Neagley on screen – the character of Frances Neagly works best as an enigma. She appears when Reacher needs her, efficiently kicks tons of ass, and glides back into the shadows. I’m not fully saying that there’s no way to make an interesting show around Neagley. But I’ve always seen her (and most of the side characters in Reacher’s universe) as, “The less we know about them, the more effective they are as assets.” Peeling back the surface on a character like Neagley almost negates her impact.

I promise to go into Neagley with an open mind. I like Maria Sten in the role. When given the chance to interview her, she has shown enormous respect for Lee Child’s source materials, so I hope that Santora and Wootton cook up a storyline that’s worthy of the spinoff. Because there are countless Child books that can carry additional seasons of Reacher, so a lackluster spinoff will just have me questioning why that time wasn’t spent on more Reacher seasons, while Alan Ritchson is still willing to suit up as the wandering spirit of vengeance.

More on Reacher Season 3, and the Neagley spinoff, as they develop.

TV shows about the military go back to the very dawn of the medium. It makes sense that as TV found its way into every house in America in the years directly after the Second World War life in the military, the highs and lows, would be a popular subject. Just like the best war movies of all time, that popularity has never waned, either, so here are 32 shows about life in the armed services.

The Unit

Though it only ran for four seasons and 68 episodes in the mid-'00s, The Unit had a dedicated fanbase. Starring Dennis Haysbert, Scott Foley, Robert Patrick, and other great actors, the show followed a secretive special forces unit as they carried out clandestine operations around the world. It also gave a big glimpse into their lives at home and on their home base. 

Private Benjamin

The huge success of the Goldie Hawn movie Private Benjamin, in 1980 - one of the best movies about women in the military - led directly to a short-lived, but actually decent TV show of the same name. The show starred Airplane! cast member Lorna Patterson as the titular army private and followed the hijinks of living on base in the army. 

Army Wives

Army Wives ran for seven successful seasons on Lifetime and what makes it unique is that it is as much or more about the families of soldiers. Life in the military isn't just about the members themselves, but their spouses and children too. This is one of the few shows focusing on that and while it got a bit sappy at times, and even cheesy, it gets props for being unique. 

Catch-22

Joseph Heller's book Catch-22 is one of the all-time great books mocking the idiosyncrasies of military life. The novel was first adapted into a movie in 1970, and in 2019 Hulu turned it into a mini-series with a star-studded cast that included Hugh Laurie, George Clooney, and Christopher Abbott as the main character of the novel, Yossarian. 

JAG

On the heels of the success of A Few Good Men came the TV show JAG. The show focused on lawyers in the Judge Advocate General branch of the Navy, just like Tom Cruise's character in the hit movie that inspired the show. The show was a huge success, running for a total of ten seasons, one on NBC and the final nine on CBS. It also had a little spinoff called NCIS, which you may have heard of. 

Homeland

One of the most harrowing shows in TV history has to be Showtime's Homeland. While most of the show is really about CIA analyst Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes), the first three seasons, the ones with Brody (Damien Lewis), did give a great glimpse of his life in the military, as a soldier, a captive, a husband, a father, and a traitor. 

MASH

There are few shows about life in the military as revered as MASH. Though the show famously ran for many more years than the Korean War that it depicted, it really was all about life in a military field hospital, though obviously very exaggerated with the level of humor and hijinks. 

China Beach

In the late '80s, Boomer nostalgia was at an all-time peak and though there were a ton of classic Boomer TV shows rebooted for the era, China Beach wasn't a reboot. Instead, it was like a more serious version of MASH, set in Vietnam during that war. It depicted life in a military hospital during the war and was filled with '60s music and nostalgia. 

Gomer Pyle: USMC

The idiosyncrasies of military life portrayed humorously have long been a TV and movie trope and no show highlights that better than Gomer Pyle: USMC starring Jim Nabors as the titular Pyle. Originally a spin-off of The Andy Griffith Show, it followed the well-intentioned but extremely naive Gomer Pyle after he left Mayberry and joined the Marine Corps. 

The Last Ship

For five seasons the TNT show The Last Ship followed the crew of a Navy destroyer whose crew were among the last survivors of a global pandemic. In 2018, when the show ended, Covid was still years away and the show, due to its prescient subject matter, found a new audience in lockdown, watching how the sailors went on with life in the new world.  

Masters Of The Air

Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks' third entry in the series of shows about life in World War Two was 2-24's Masters Of The Air. Like their previous two shows, Band of Brothers and The Pacific, the show not only shows the harrowing side of war, this time in the bombers over Europe but of what it's like living in the military during wartime. 

NCIS

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the investigative side of the Navy Military Police. Though most of the members of the team in NCIS aren't active military, most are veterans, and the show leans heavily into life in the military in all aspects of the cases they are investigating. The show's incredible success has seemingly spawned more spin-offs than there are ships in the Navy.

Victory At Sea

Victory At Sea is the lone documentary series on this list, but it's not your typical documentary, as it ran for more than 20 episodes in the early 1950s. It's a fascinating glimpse into the Navy during World War II and while it's certainly quite dated now, it is a worthy watch for any WWII buff or fan of history. 

Band Of Brothers

Arguably the best television show about World War II and life in the army has to be Band Of Brothers. More than 20 years after it first aired on HBO it remains as great as it first was. With a stellar cast and an unbelievable story, not to mention the incredible production value, it's a true classic. The show focuses on the men of Easy Company from their training days as paratroopers to their last days of the war and it gives viewers everything from life in camp to life on the battlefield. 

SEAL Team

The CBS show SEAL Team is known for its authenticity. Throughout its run, it employed veterans as cast members, writers, and crew members, and used many consultants to make the missions and lives of the members of the team as realistic as possible. 

McHale's Navy

The sitcom McHale's Navy is like Gilligan's Island meets Hogan's Heroes. Like other military sitcoms, it is really more about the lighter side of life in the military, poking fun at the rules and regulations. The show, led by actor Ernest Borgnine, was very popular in its day and spawned three movies, including a remake in the '90s that was... not so great. 

Rome

Life in the Roman army in the early days of the Roman Empire was brutal. Military campaigns lasted years, the shifting politics meant almost endless civil war and armies were expected to live off the land for months and years. HBO's ill-fated show Rome shows much of this through the eyes of two soldiers. Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd) and Titus Pullo (Ray Stevenson), as well as from the top down with characters like Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar. 

North And South

The American Civil War was one of the most brutal conflicts of the 19th Century and North and South, a three-installment miniseries that ran on ABC in the late '80s and '90s portrayed just how horrifying and personal it was. The story follows two soldiers played by Patrick Swayze and James Read in the years before, during, and after the war. Best friends before the war, and enemies during it.

Hogan's Heroes

Like other sitcoms on this list, Hogan's Heroes really shows the lighter side of military life, even in a prisoner-of-war camp in Germany during World War II. While it's greatly exaggerated and played for laughs, as with all the shows, there is a certain amount of biting truth, sarcasm, and irony in army life and this show does it as well as any. 

The Pacific

After the huge success of Band of Brothers, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg returned with The Pacific, also on HBO. While not quite as good as its companion show, it still shows the harrowing, brutal nature of the United States campaign against the Japanese in World War II, but from a number of Marine units, rather than one company as Band of Brothers depicts. 

Shogun

FX's Shogun, based on the best-selling novel by James Clavell, is a look into the highly militaristic society of feudal Japan as it transitioned into the Edo Period around 1600 CE. It's a fantastic show based on a wonderful book of historical fiction and can't be recommended highly enough if you are interested in military history and what was life like for those serving in this time period. 

Major Dad

Silly sitcoms showing the funny side of life in the military are as old as TV itself. In the late '80s and early '90s, this type of show was represented by Major Dad. While it's hardly the best show on the list, it is nice to see the family side of life on a military base with an important father in the military. 

Generation Kill

Alexander Skarsgård stars in HBO's Generation Kill which was one of the first depictions of the War in Iraq. The show is based on the book of the same name about a journalist embedded with the Marine Corps during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. It's still one of the best depictions of that war, many years removed from its release in 2008. 

The Terminal List

The Terminal List, starring Chris Pratt, isn't exactly the most realistic show on this list, and it was subject to some bad reviews by critics, but it found its audience in fans of military shows and revenge plots, of which it has in spades. 

Reacher

The character of Jack Reacher, created by writer Lee Child has been adapted for the screen multiple times. First in a film series starring Tom Cruise as Reacher, but later, and more faithfully, by Amazon Prime simply called Reacher. Though Reacher is a military vet, most of the stories in the books are about his life after the military. This is true of the first season of the show, but the second includes a lot of flashbacks to his time in the service and fits this list well. 

Pensacola: Wings of Gold

Okay, okay Pensacola: Wings of Gold is on this list because it's actually a fairly poor representation of life in the military. There are glaring inaccuracies all over the place in this short-lived syndicated show starring James Brolin from the '90s. It's a lesson in how wrong shows can be, which can be just as enlightening, don't you think?

Strike Back

Cinemax's Strike Back stuttered and skipped over its eight-season run, always seeming to be on the verge of being canceled, but fans kept it alive over and over. It's a good thing too, because it was a great show that the fans obviously loved and it. Each season was unique, but all focused on secret agents and military forces performing clandestine operations. 

The A-Team

This one, we admit, is a bit of a stretch, but The A-Team was just so fun, that it's impossible to leave it off. The show, about a misfit crew of soldiers of fortune operating in the Los Angeles underground, brought real spectacle to '80s prime time and the former soldiers-turned-outlaws were constantly getting into scraps with the US Army who wanted them arrested. 

Turn: Washington's Spies

The American Revolution was unlike any war that come before it. It was almost unheard of at the time that a colony would successfully throw off the shackles of the empire that controlled it. A big reason for the American victory was the spy network built by General George Washington. This under-told story comes to life in Turn: Washington's Spies and gives a fascinating glimpse into this aspect of the way. 

12 O'Clock High

Years before Apple TV+ produced Master Of The Air, ABC aired two and half seasons of 12 O'Clock High, about bombers over Europe in World War II. The show, based on a movie of the same name released in 1949, never really found its footing with multiple cast changes happening over its brief run and is hardly remembered today. 

Valor

Valor was a short-lived show on The CW that lasted only 13 episodes, but it's worth mentioning because it's one of the rare shows that portrays a female lead. Christina Ochoa plays Chief Warrant Officer Nora Madani, a pilot and Special Operations soldier. Both are far too rare in real life and on TV. 

Foyle's War

Foyle's War, a British crime procedural is really more about life during wartime, than it is about life in the military, but there is enough crossover and depictions of military life in World War II Britain that it's worth including on this list. 

I am an enormous fan of Reacher, the ongoing adaptation of the Lee Child book series that is delivering one of the best TV shows on Amazon Prime Video. Season 1 of the program tackled the first book in Child’s series, Killing Floor. But for Season 2, the writers shifted to book 11, Bad Luck and Trouble, which is introducing the members of Reacher’s Special Investigators as they embark on a mission of vengeance. It has been an interesting extension of Reacher Season 1, but the showrunners and creatives behind the show also are using tricks to sell an important part of Jack Reacher’s characterization – his massive physique. 

I picked up on the visual tricks when Reacher (Alan Ritchson) shopped at a thrift shop in episode one of Season 2. A simple two shot that required Amy Keating (playing the cashier) to sit low behind the counter. And it allows the already stout Ritchson to tower above the lady as they have a conversation. It looks like this:

Lee Child famously writes Jack Reacher as a hulk of a man, a slab of beef who glides through the world like a shark on the hunt. He’s meant to be physically imposing, and the size differential is part of the reason why audiences didn’t fully embrace Tom Cruise in his two Jack Reacher movies. Casting Alan Ritchson helped to address some of that physicality when Reacher arrived on Amazon Prime Video, but everything about Reacher is bigger in Season 2. I wonder how differently the show would have approached things if The Rock got to play Reacher back in the day.  

The visual trickery caught my eye once again in episode 3 of the current season, and now I know it’s a thing they are doing on purpose. Reacher enters a pawn shop looking for guns. And the episode’s director frames another shot to show our hero towering over his screen partner. It’s subtle, but it helps to sell Reacher’s girth. I can’t get enough of these shots!

Everything about the Reacher adaptation has convinced me that the material is in the right hands. Ritchson is the right casting choice to play Reacher, and it’s encouraging that they already are filming on Reacher Season 3, even if the hulking actor won’t tell me the book on which they are relying. I have faith in the team. They are off to a great start on Reacher Season 2, going to the right lengths to bring the story of Bad Luck and Trouble to life on the big screen. I know, it’s on our televisions. But when it comes to Alan Ritchson, the screen is big. Bigger than we’d ever imagined. 

Tom Cruise is no stranger to iconic roles. From Jerry Maguire to Ethan Hunt, there is something about his performances that stick with audiences years after the films come out. That’s why when Alan Ritchson was cast as Jack Reacher in the Reacher TV series, he knew he had some big shoes to fill. Ritchson’s physicality may be a better fit for the character than Cruise’s was, according to myriad online fan opinions, but the fandom around Cruise as a movie star is still unmatched. Apparently the Titans actor reached out to Tom Cruise when he was cast, but unfortunately it didn't work out.

Looking At The Controversial Fan Response to Tom Cruise’s Jack Reacher

Cruise played Jack Reacher for two major motion pictures that performed well at the box office. The films are a lot of fun, and have that Tom Cruise intensity infused in them which connects so much with fans. However, Cruise still received a lot of criticism as Reacher because his physicality didn’t exactly match the description in the books by Lee Child. Ritchson was aware of this, and in a recent interview with Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the actor expressed how indebted he felt to Cruise, despite the backlash the movie star received from his own portrayal. Richson said:

This is truly a testament to Cruise’s movie stardom. Even though he wasn’t cast in accordance with the book description, he was still able to bring people out the the theaters. Honestly, I think there likely wouldn’t be a Reacher series without the immense amount of success the movies achieved before it. 

As it stands, it gave the IP a deeper awareness and likely prompted fans to check out the Ritchson version, making the Reacher series a streaming hit amongst those with an Amazon Prime subscription. Because of this, Ritchson tried to reach out to the Oscar nominee to thank him for passing the torch. 

What Happened When Alan Ritchson Tried To Reach Out To Tom Cruise

As a symbol of gratitude and expression of appreciation, the new series lead decided to write Tom Cruise a heartfelt letter. The letter was meant to bridge the gap between the two Jack Reachers, according to Ritchson. The gesture was well intended, however when Ritchson tried to give the letter to one of their mutual partners at Skydance, they refused to pass on the letter on to the megastar. Ritchson explained:

Clearly the letter gesture wasn’t popular amongst people at Skydance, no matter how well intentioned. Even if he was unable to say what was in his heart to Tom Cruise with the letter, Ritchson still used his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel’s show to express his appreciation for the actor who initiated the Jack Reacher role, and how thankful he is that Cruise made the IP such a popular one. The Magnolia actor may have moved on, like the Skydance executive said, but everyone loves hearing a nice message of thanks, and he probably appreciates the sentiment. 

You can check out Alan Ritchson in Reacher, which just began its second season, and is streaming now. Fans of the source material can also see Tom Cruise’s portrayal of the iconic character in the 2012 film Jack Reacher, which is available now for Paramount+ subscription.

I am a huge fan of the Lee Child books that feature the wandering force of justice, Jack Reacher. I enjoyed the first attempt by Tom Cruise to bring the hero to life on the big screen (though I thought its sequel failed). But I really grooved on Reacher Season 1, available to anyone with an Amazon Prime Video subscription. The show was a faithful adaptation of the initial Child book Killing Field, and lead Alan Ritchson was an excellent choice to play Jack Reacher on the screen. Reacher easily was one of the best shows on Amazon, and I circled the date for the launch of Reacher Season 2. And it’s here… though with some changes that fans of the books may be curious about. 

The new season of Reacher chose to adapt the Lee Child book Bad Luck and Trouble, a story that follows Reacher to Los Angeles where he and his military colleague Neagley (Maria Sten) investigate the murder of two members of their elite Army Special Forces squadron. The book – and the show – introduce key characters from Reacher’s past: Dixon (Serinda Swan) and O’Donnell (Shaun Sipos). But the series, which is available to stream right now, changes the location of the action from L.A. and Las Vegas to New York City and Atlantic City. 

When I got the chance to speak with Alan Ritchson for an exclusive interview, I asked him if he knew why the showrunners decided to shift the action. And he candidly confessed:

Reacher isn’t the first television program or movie to film in Canada and call it some other place. This is a very common practice. And changing the location of the Bad Luck and Trouble story doesn’t drastically affect the narrative. There’s still a deep conspiracy happening that involves casinos and power brokers, and two or Reacher’s men got wrapped up in the business. 

But one of the things I like about the different Jack Reacher books that Lee Child has produced is that each mission or adventure tends to take Reacher to new areas, and they tend to be as different as possible for the audience. He might be in Key West at the start of one case, but conclude in New York City or St. Louis. And in some of the stories, the location and the weather can be enormous factors in Reacher’s ongoing investigation. It’s why I asked Ritchson where Reacher Season 3 might be set… even if his answer was sketchy. 

The first three episodes of Reacher Season 2 are available now, and the rest will arrive on a weekly basis. So far, I’d say that the show is in very good hands, and I very much look forward to seeing how the rest of the season is going to shake out. 

Enough with all of this waiting. It has simply been too damn long since Jack Reacher fans got to see the towering Alan Ritchson beating all sorts of ass as our favorite wandering vigilante in the original series Reacher, easily one of the best shows available on Amazon Prime Video. The first season of Reacher aired in February of 2022, and while we have been stockpiling information on Reacher Season 2, a release date eluded us. Until now. Sort of.

A new video released by Prime Video teased a slate of movies and television shows that will be arriving between now and the end of this year. And near the very beginning of the video, we are informed that Alan Ritchson will be returning as Jack Reacher in December 2023. What date specifically? Well, that is not part of the video. But we do get this awesome shot of Reacher walking up on some dude and punching his hand through the driver’s side window. Classic Reacher. 

We don’t get a ton of new Reacher footage in the montage video, which I will include below (just so you can see for yourself). We do see Alan Ritchson’s hulking shoulders from behind as he walks through a major city – suggesting a shift in location from the rural Georgia backdrop of Reacher Season 1. 

But we knew that was going to be the case, as Reacher Season 2 will be adapting the Lee Child book Bad Luck and Trouble, which is an outstanding choice. This isn’t the second book, chronologically, in the Child series. Which some fans thought the series might do, as Reacher Season 1 adapted the first Jack Reacher book, Killing Floor. But the action in Bad Luck and Trouble shifts to Los Angeles, where Reacher and members of his elite former army investigators look into the murder of two colleagues. It seems their two friends were involved with serious dealings that link L.A. and Las Vegas, and Reacher isn’t going to stop until he figures out who did this to his veteran associates. 

Also, Jack Reacher just likes a good reason to blow into town and smash some heads. Here’s that Amazon Prime Video that shows brief Reacher Season 2 footage:

And now we begin counting down until December, which is close, but still too far away given the amount of time we have waited for new episodes of this series. I’m genuinely curious if Season 1 was a fluke, or if Ritchson and showrunner Nick Santora have cracked the formula on the Lee Child series, making Season 2 the next installment in a long line of successful Reacher seasons. 

Author Lee Child has a deep bench of Jack Reacher novels from which Reacher showrunner Nick Santora can draw inspiration for season 2 of the Amazon Prime Video thriller. We have singled out four Reacher novels that make sense for season 2, while leading man Alan Ritchson also revealed the Reacher book that he’d prefer to adapt in his second go-round as the man-mountain military investigator. But now that it has been confirmed that Reacher will go with the 11th novel in the series, Bad Luck and Trouble, we’re here to tell you exactly why that is the perfect selection for the next chapter of Jack Reacher on Amazon Prime Video.

The news was confirmed by Reacher leading man Alan Ritchson, who posted a photo on Twitter of him holding up a copy of Lee Child’s Bad Luck and Trouble book. Take a look here:

The quote that Alan Ritchson uses describes one of the major characters who will need to be cast for Reacher season 2 when it returns to Amazon Prime Video, likely in 2023 (as the next season begins filming in the Fall). “O’Donnell” refers to David O’Donnell, a former member of Reacher’s elite military investigative squad. They had a mantra: “You don’t mess with the special investigators.” But the story begins when someone HAS messed with the special investigators, and members of the one-time team start turning up dead. 

In Bad Luck and Trouble, the wandering Reacher (Alan Ritchson) gets summoned to Los Angeles by his former partner Frances Neagley (Maria Sten), a character we met briefly in season 1 of the program. The remaining members of Reacher’s military investigation team start digging into what might have happened to their former colleagues… knowing that whomever was capable of taking them off of the board has to be similarly elite, and very dangerous. 

When Alan Ritchson opened up about the book that he wanted to see adapted for Reacher season 2, he picked the second book in the series, Die Trying. The Reacher series doesn’t unfold chronologically, as each book basically offers up its own standalone story and the seasons don’t have a need to connect. Still, you might think it strange to have season 2 of Reacher jump all the way to book eleven, mainly because season 1 decided to adapt The Killing Floor, the very first Jack Reacher book that Lee Child wrote.

However, here’s why it’s perfect. One of the major questions we had about Jack Reacher following the actions of season 1 has to do with his military training, and his ability to prevail over so many lethal antagonists. There are explanations as to why Reacher has chosen a life of isolation and wandering, and they get explored in subsequent books. But Bad Luck and Trouble specifically digs into how Reacher got to be so efficient as a military investigator, and puts the hero and his former team up against some significant adversaries. So this would allow the outstanding Amazon Prime Video series to further develop Jack Reacher’s skill set by laying out most of what he accomplished in the military.

Also, one thing that Bad Luck and Trouble allows Reacher season 2 to do is show off completely new locations from the small-town Georgia environment. The story is set in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and it’s important to show Reacher operating in new cities and towns, as that’s integral to his character. Finally, the last reason why Bad Luck and Trouble works so well is because the other investigators who will join Reacher for his next case are complete badasses who I really want to see on screen. Maria Sten’s already in the fold as Neagley, but next we will get to meet lethal ex-soldiers O’Donnell and Karla Dixon, and we might even get actors cast as Calvin Franz, Jorge Sanchez, and Tony Swan… all of whom deserve on-screen representation. 

We can’t wait to see more of Reacher, as it was one of the best Amazon Prime Video shows available on the streaming platform. So make sure that you have your Amazon Prime Subscription up to date, so that when it finally arrives, you will be able to watch it as soon as possible. 

Taking on the mantle of Jack Reacher requires having broad shoulders, both physically and metaphorically. There’s going to be an inordinate amount of scrutiny that comes with being in the role, as the character has an incredibly faithful fanbase that’s protective of how he is portrayed on screen. But when it came to Reacher star Alan Ritchson, who stepped into the role for the first season of the new Amazon Prime Video program, it also meant bearing physical pain on his shoulders that eventually required surgery. 

The numbers have proven that Reacher was a major success for Amazon Prime Video. And the adaptation had bestselling author Lee Child almost in tears by the time he reached the finale. But now we are learning that leading man Alan Ritchson likely was in real tears because of injuries he sustained while filming the program… injuries that led to post-filming surgeries. As Ritchson explained to Variety in a recent interview:

My guess is that when he returns for season two of Reacher, knowing how important he is to the program’s success, Alan Ritchson will have riders in his contract that call for a few more scenes done by stunt doubles, though good luck finding people who are the size and shape of Ritchson. The actor revealed that his physical preparation to look the part involved an insane diet – which he used to sneak in some Popeye’s Fried Chicken sandwiches. But thanks to his training, the actor now knows how to pull off some very dangerous fight moves, should he ever find himself in a bar fight, or facing down some felons in a prison shower.

Season 2 of Reacher will be coming to Amazon Prime Video in the future. Ritchson told us the book that he would like to adapt, and we also picked four possible stories that would make for excellent follow up seasons. So long as they maintain the tone of the original season, Reacher should be in good hands. Because while it’s very difficult to bring that character that Lee Child brought to life on the page to the screen (thanks to him being larger than life in so many formats), this adaptation of the Reacher world definitely is the closest to anything we have ever seen, and likely ever will see again. 

The first season of Reacher currently is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, so make sure you have a subscription and press play on the action series right now.

Jack Reacher, the monstrous main character of Lee Child’s bestselling series of books, has several unique survival skills. And many of them translate to Reacher, the new Amazon Prime Video show that’s currently available on the streaming service (and is getting decent reviews). Reacher’s usually the smartest person in any room, and his skills serve as “life hacks” for anyone who reads Child’s books… or co-stars in the show. Willa Fitzgerald told me the facts about toothpicks that are used to jam up a hotel door. Malcolm Goodwin learned how to get out of a hotel room when the front door isn’t an option. And as for Alan Ritchson, the man playing Reacher on screen, he took home a lethal skill that he can now apply in real life – if he wants to send someone to the hospital. 

It’s worth acknowledging that Alan Ritchson is built like a mountain, mirroring the size and shape of Jack Reacher from the books. As such, Ritchson found himself involved in countless fights over the course of the eight episode season, which wisely adapts Lee Child’s first book, The Killing Floor. And when CinemaBlend asked Reacher star Ritchson a skill he took home from the set, he admitted:

“Fun,” he says. And yet, the idea of Alan Ritchson using his head to punch me anywhere is the polar opposite of fun. As you can see from our interview clip above, this man is a problem. Which makes him, on the surface, a good choice to play Jack Reacher in a Reacher adaptation. There are moments in the new show where Reacher is being confronted by others who are looking for a fight, and our hero basically warns them against starting anything, because he knows the pain he is about to inflict. Like, in this prison brawl battle:

Reacher takes the plot of Lee Child’s first book and stretches it out over an eight-episode Amazon Prime Video show. In the story, the perpetually wandering Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson) steps off a bus in rural Georgia and straight into a murder investigation that somehow involves his older brother, and a series of corrupt cops. The entire season is now available on Amazon Prime, so if you already have an Amazon Prime subscription, dive right in.

Fans of Lee Child’s beloved Jack Reacher book series have been waiting for years to see how the character will be adapted for the small screen, and that wait is finally over. Critics got a peek at the series ahead of its February 4 release on Amazon's Prime Video, and their reviews are here. What did they have to say about “bigger than Tom Cruise” Alan Ritchson as the beloved title character?

The idea behind Amazon's streaming adaptation of the series is to cover one book per season of Reacher, with the first season bringing to life Lee Child’s 1997 novel Killing Floor. The story follows former U.S. Army military policeman Jack Reacher as he becomes involved in a conspiracy after being arrested in small-town Georgia for a crime he didn’t commit. Let’s see what the reviews have to say about Prime Video’s Reacher. 

Amon Warmann of Empire gives the new show 3 out of 5 stars, saying the series isn’t without its faults, but adapting the series for streaming allows for character development that the movies lacked. 

John Powers of NPR enjoys the series, particularly Alan Ritchson as the ultra-violent vigilante. With “abs the size of Evian bottles,” Ritchson should satisfy all of the fans who don’t like Tom Cruise’s movie portrayal of the 6-foot-5 250-pound book character. 

Scott Von Doviak of AV Club scored the Amazon series a B, saying Reacher the Prime Video series is just like the books — it’s not going to challenge its audience very much, but viewers are likely to still be satisfied when it’s finished. 

Richard Trenholm of CNET agrees with that sentiment but thinks Reacher might take it a bit too far. He says the series relies a little too much on tropes that may feel stale rather than comfortably familiar. 

Daniel Fienberg of THR says as a lover of the book series, he enjoys the series more than the movies because of the care given to the source material. However, Lee Child’s books are meant to be exciting, quick reads, and seeing that on screen makes the flaws harder to ignore. 

Critics agreed all around that the casting of Alan Ritchson rights the wrongs made on the big screen, and it sounds like the series shares a lot of the same qualities that endeared fans to the books. All eight episodes of Reacher Season 1 will be available for streaming on Prime Video on Friday, February 4. Check out some other shows on Amazon Prime, and take a peek at our 2022 TV schedule to see what other shows are premiering soon. 

Here’s the best way to tell that the team behind Amazon Prime Video’s Jack Reacher series understand the character, and what fans of the Lee Childs books want to see out of these stories. The first time we see Reacher in the trailer for the upcoming series, he’s seated in a diner. Perfect. Naturally, his meal (guaranteed to include black coffee) is interrupted by distrustful law enforcement agents who are ready to pull Reacher into a violent mess. Such is the way of this massive, wandering man. The new trailer is above. It gets an awful lot right about this fascinating character… and one very important element wrong. Watch it, then read on.

This might look familiar to you, if you managed to watch either of the Tom Cruise movies that were adapted from the Lee Childs action series -- one of which was VERY good, and the other of which was not. Fans of the Jack Reacher series felt, rightfully so, that Cruise was miscast as the story’s lead -- a mountain of a man who personifies brute force. And while Cruise was good as Reacher in every other aspect, Amazon knew they had to skew closer to the book when they tried a Jack Reacher series. 

The trailer, as I mentioned, taps directly into who Jack Reacher is: A wanderer, and a former military cop, who can’t stop digging up trouble when he lands in an off-the-map podunk location. There’s always a dead body, a missing person, a put-upon innocent… someone who needs Reacher’s assistance. And his physicality.

There are moments in this first trailer for Jack Reacher that get me very excited for Alan Ritchson’s portrayal. For starters, he leads off with head butts in fist fights. Classic Reacher. Also, that line of dialogue where Reacher basically predicts to an opponent how a fight is going to go down (“One of you’s got to drive to the hospital” is a nice bit of Reacher foreshadowing), only to have it play out exactly how Reacher calculated the fight in his head? That’s right off of the pages of Lee Childs’ books. 

What’s my lone gripe? It’s minimal, but it’s the fact that Alan Ritchson -- while looking the size of the part -- is too handsome for Reacher. Not that Jack Reacher is a dog, by any means. But he’s beaten up and broken, with a disjointed nose that has been decimated far too often in fistfights and scars (from those same encounters) all over his rugged skin. Of course, I understand that this is a Hollywood project, and people will tune in for an Abercrombie-perfect leading man as opposed to the hulk that stomps through Lee Childs’ novels. But that’s the one element about this new Jack Reacher trailer that made me say, “Eh, so close, but…” The rest looked really good.

Jack Reacher begins streaming on Amazon Prime Video on February 4. The initial season will be based on The Killing Floor, the first book in the Reacher book series, published in 1997. Good place to begin. It’s a gritty and gripping story, and will make for a solid 8-episode season, if they treat the material right. 

It shouldn't come as much of a surprise that Sweet Girl is drawing a lot of attention. Jason Momoa's action-thriller wasn't a critical favorite, to say the least, but it's the sort of movie that you can watch casually on a Saturday afternoon, especially if you enjoy the Aquaman actor. If you're itching for a few more films in this vein, we're here to help!

Here's what you should stream or rent if you liked Netflix's action-packed blockbuster.

John Q (Showtime/Cinemax)

When his insurance won't cover his son's heart transplant, a desperate man (Denzel Washington) takes a hospital emergency room hostage.

Why You Should Stream It If You Liked Sweet Girl: The movie that Sweet Girl is perhaps most comparable to is John Q, Denzel Washington's thrilling, thoughtful drama centered around a father who makes some bad decisions in the interest of doing the right thing. With its vigilante lead, its clear-eyed disdain for Big Pharm, and its high volume of thrills, this early '00s pulse-pounder wasn't especially well-received by critics, but it continued Washington's track record as a dependable box office star, grossing over $100 million worldwide. Come into the movie for the action/suspense and leave with some serious, stimulating discussions about the increasingly distressing state of modern healthcare.

Stream John Q on Showtime.

Stream John Q on Cinemax.

Rent John Q on Amazon.

Braven (Netflix)

A logger (Jason Momoa) defends his family from dangerous drug runners.

Why You Should Stream It If You Liked Sweet Girl: If you love Jason Momoa and you're looking for another Netflix movie to watch, Braven does seem like the next logical step. Similar to Sweet Girl, the action-thriller follows a standard revenge-type plot, focusing on a reclusive man who is pushed to the edge by nefarious personalities. But Momoa's screen presence remains distinct, and there's an unpretentious quality to Braven that can make it easy to enjoy in the right mood. Will it be remembered for years to come? Maybe not. But this '90s throwback should win the warm affections of the actor's fans.

Stream Braven on Netflix.

Rent Braven on Amazon.

The Rainmaker (Starz)

A low-level lawyer (Matt Damon) takes on a fraudulent insurance company.

Why You Should Stream It If You Liked Sweet Girl: While Francis Ford Coppola's '90s drama favors conversations over action beats, The Rainmaker should appeal to any viewer who enjoys thoughtful commentary on corporate greed and the dangers of putting your faith in the healthcare insurance system. This acclaimed legal drama might not be as lighthearted as other films we've listed, admittedly, but if you appreciate intellectual discussions about modern medical care, The Rainmaker will win you over.

Stream The Rainmaker on Starz.

Rent The Rainmaker on Amazon.

Sudden Death (Amazon)

A former fireman (Jean-Claude Van Damme) takes on a group of terrorists holding the Vice President hostage during the heated seventh game of the NHL Stanley Cup finals.

Why You Should Stream It If You Liked Sweet Girl: There's no denying that Sudden Death is one big ball of cheese. That said, if you loved Sweet Girl, particularly for its giant climactic scene centered around PNC Park, there's a good chance that you love Pittsburgh-based throwback action-thrillers with a mix of high stakes and local sports arenas. Should that be the case, you'll likely enjoy this mid-'90s JCVD movie, which was based on a story by Karen Elise Baldwin, the wife of then-Pittsburgh Penguins owner Howard Baldwin, who co-produced the film. Though it wasn't especially well-liked upon release, it's been retrospectively seen as one of the action star's better movies from his fast-fighting macho era. If you prefer civil conversations over roundhouse punts to the face, Sudden Death may not be your thing. Otherwise, you might get a big kick out of it.

Rent Sudden Death on Amazon.

Side Effects (Starz)

A distressed woman (Rooney Mara) sees her life spiraling when a drug prescribed to her has unexpected side effects.

Why You Should Stream It If You Liked Sweet Girl: Though ultimately more grounded and character-focused compared to Sweet Girl, Side Effects is another movie with a great deal of contempt for the current state of the healthcare system, with Steven Soderbergh providing another sneering, sophisticated thriller with an all-star ensemble and his dependable stylistic flair. Led by Rooney Mara, Side Effects is sharp in its observations and cutting in its approach, but it also has a great deal of pulp to wash down some of its more bitter pills. The result isn't Soderbergh's finest, notably with a wobbly third act, but it's quite compelling and it shows the director's commendable strengths and his unwavering confidence as a filmmaker and a pulsating entertainer.

Stream Side Effects on Starz.

Rent Side Effects on Amazon.

Sicko (Hoopla/Kanopy/Tubi/Plex/Vudu/Amazon Prime)

Michael Moore explores the various problems that plague the American healthcare system.

Why You Should Stream It If You Liked Sweet Girl: Depending on where your politics lie, Michael Moore's movies might not be your cup of tea. But if you appreciated the fist-shaking at Big Pharm throughout Sweet Girl, you'll probably like Sicko, the insightful 2008 documentary exploring the injustices that take place daily in the U.S. healthcare system. Maybe even more so than most of the director's other features, Sicko is made accessible through a universal distaste and disgust for how common citizens can be misled and mistreated by insurance companies and other healthcare providers. This core frustration is vividly detailed, while also carrying the filmmaker's signature wit and mischievous irreverence. That said, if your blood pressure is already high, put this one at the bottom of your list. The last thing you need at the moment is more medical bills.

Stream Sicko on Hoopla.

Stream Sicko on Kanopy.

Stream Sicko on Tubi.

Stream Sicko on Plex.

Stream Sicko on Vudu.

Stream Sicko on Amazon Prime.

Rent Sicko on Amazon.

The Fugitive (HBO Max)

A man (Harrison Ford) wrongly accused of murdering his wife must track down the real killer while being the target of a nationwide manhunt.

Why You Should Stream It If You Liked Sweet Girl: If we're talking about "man on the run" movies, we'd be hard-pressed not to mention The Fugitive. The Harrison Ford-starring action-thriller is basically the baseline for these popcorn flicks, and its influence is seen throughout Sweet Girl. There's a lot to like in this cable favorite, from Ford's appealingly rugged performance to Tommy Lee Jones' Oscar-winning supporting turn. Above all else, though, it's effectively rousing filmmaking, and one that's easy to revisit — no matter how many times you've seen it. If you haven't watched it, it's probably playing on TNT. Or your dad has it on DVD. If those options fail, stream it on HBO Max.

Stream The Fugitive on HBO Max.

Rent The Fugitive on Amazon.

Man on Fire (Amazon)

A former CIA operative (Denzel Washington) is out for vengeance against those who hurt the family he was hired to protect.

Why You Should Stream It If You Liked Sweet Girl: Much like John Q, Man on Fire is a revenge thriller that's bolstered by Denzel Washington's magnetizing screen presence. Given its fair share of flair and style from the late Tony Scott, Man on Fire is a dark, entertaining thrill ride, and it's not afraid to get mean and violent. Can it be loud and excessive? Certainly. But Washington's controlled performance keeps it all in check, producing one compelling sequence after another. It runs a bit long, but it doesn't lose steam. If you like your revenge films with some unhinged menace, check this one out.

Rent Man on Fire on Amazon.

The Next Three Days (Netflix)

A married couple's (Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks) life is turned upside down when the wife is accused of murder.

Why You Should Stream It If You Liked Sweet Girl: If you are a big fan of movies about angry men facing injustices and on the run fighting for their lives, with the 'Burgh in the backdrop, you better check out The Next Three Days. Paul Haggis' character-focused drama-thriller isn't without its problems, namely its ludicrous plot and uneven pacing, but it's ultimately an effective thriller, thanks to strong performances from its lead stars, its suspenseful story, and its local flavor. Maybe I'm a bit soft on this movie since it takes place in my neck of the woods, but this watchable, well-crafted drama does seem to have more going for it than some critics gave it credit. If you're looking for another fun Pittsburgh thriller, especially one that's on Netflix, this film is easy to engage with.

Stream The Next Three Days on Netflix.

Rent The Next Three Days on Amazon.

Jack Reacher (Hulu/Paramount+/Epix)

A homicide investigator (Tom Cruise) dives into a case involving a trained military sniper.

Why You Should Stream It If You Liked Sweet Girl: If you're jonesing for even more Pittsburgh-based action movies, Jack Reacher is quite easily one of the best of the bunch. This paperback adaptation isn't the most intellectually stimulating watch, but its thrills never fail. Tom Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie, who has taken over the Mission: Impossible franchise, know how to bring pulpy thrills and how to pack a punch. Plus, what other action movie features a villainous turn from acclaimed auteur, Werner Herzog? Unfortunately, the lackluster 2016 sequel was ultimately forgettable and disappointing, but Jack Reacher is a slick and entertaining ride from start to finish.

Stream Jack Reacher on Hulu.

Stream Jack Reacher on Paramount+.

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Rent Jack Reacher on Amazon.

Aquaman (HBO Max)

The human-born heir to the throne of Atlantis (Jason Momoa) must go on a quest to prevent a war between land dwellers and the residents of the ocean.

Why You Should Stream It If You Liked Sweet Girl: Considering that the movie made a billion dollars worldwide, there's a pretty good chance that you've seen Aquaman — especially if you're a Jason Momoa fan. Certainly, Sweet Girl feels like one of the actor's passion projects after leading the charge on this surprisingly massive DC blockbuster, and it's easy to see why Netflix was inclined to give the action star his own vehicle. His screen presence as the nautical scalawag is boisterous and playful, working well with his singular screen presence. Similarly, James Wan brings a lot of inventiveness to the forefront, filling this superhero movie with colorful oddities and pulpy action galore. The result is an appropriately splashy success — one that solidified Momoa as a major star.

Stream Aquaman on HBO Max.

Rent Aquaman on Amazon.

Dora and the Lost City of Gold (Paramount+/Hulu/Epix)

Dora the Explorer (Isabela Merced) leads her friends on an adventure to save her parents.

Why You Should Stream It If You Liked Sweet Girl: Though it was nowhere near as profitable as Aquaman, Dora and the Lost City of Gold was also a strong showcase for Sweet Girl's other star, Isabela Merced. This self-aware, live-action reboot of the popular children's show didn't put a lot of butts in seats, but it did prove that Merced could be an appealing actress in her own right. She takes on the familiar, fourth-wall-breaking title character with a cheeky smile and a fun-loving attitude. The up-and-coming movie starlet plays up Dora's eccentricities quite well, while also making the performance her own. The resulting family film owes a great deal to The Brady Bunch Movie and The Addams Family, but it's also, thankfully, surprisingly amusing and disarmingly sweet.

Stream Dora and the Lost City of Gold on Paramount+.

Stream Dora and the Lost City of Gold on Hulu.

Stream Dora and the Lost City of Gold on Epix.

Rent Dora and the Lost City of Gold on Amazon.

Sweet Girl is available to stream on Netflix.

After spending some time on the big screen, the character of Jack Reacher is headed to the small screen in a new show that will stream on Amazon Prime. The character was played by Tom Cruise in the character’s cinematic outings but will now be portrayed by Alan Ritchson, who seems to be a nice fit for the role. The physically imposing actor is currently known for his role on DC’s Titans, on which he plays Hank Hall/Hawk. However, years ago, he was known to superhero fans as Arthur Curry/Aquaman on Smallville. And now, it looks like Jack Reacher is going to give Ritchson a reunion, as the show has picked up another Smallville alum.

In Amazon Prime’s Jack Reacher series, Alan Ritchson will be joined by none other than Kristin Kreuk, who Smallville fans know for playing Lana Lang on the superhero show. TVLine reports that Kreuk will play Charlie, who’s described as a refined, former debutante who enjoys a privileged life alongside her husband, Hubble, played by Good Witch alum Marc Bendavid.

Kristin Kreuk’s new role comes only a few months after the cancellation of her legal drama Burden of Truth. The CBC show, which aired in the U.S. as part of The CW’s summer programming slate, ran for four seasons before being cancelled. With Jack Reacher, Kreuk joins a cast that also includes the likes of What We Do in the Shadows‘ Harvey Guillén and The Rookie’s Currie Graham. Meanwhile, Scorpion alum Nick Santora is set to write the show and serve as showrunner.

Although Alan Ritchson and Kristin Kreuk’s Smallville characters mostly remained in separate orbits, it will be nice to see the two act alongside each other on Jack Reacher. And Kreuk should make for an excellent addition to the cast. The Canadian actress beautifully played Lana Lang and, over the course of that series, she transformed the character from a soft-spoken girl next door to a strategic and powerful woman. Since leaving that series, Kreuk has continued to take on new roles with her work in the aforementioned Burden of Truth and The CW’s Beauty and the Beast.

Jack Reacher, based on the character created by author Lee Child, is primed to be yet another action-packed series for Amazon Prime. The show should stand firmly alongside the suspenseful Jack Ryan, a show that some commonly confuse with the Reacher property.

Fans have yet to get an official look at the upcoming Jack Reacher adaptation, but we have learned a few details regarding how it will be adapted. Alan Ritchson recently revealed that the plan is for the show to adapt a different book every season, which is a pretty smart way to handle the upcoming show.

It remains to be seen how things pan out for Amazon Prime’s Jack Reacher but, based on what we’ve learned about it so far, the show is assembling some key pieces that could make it successful. And with this latest casting, the show may have, at the very least, gained a small sum of Smallville fans as potential viewers.

As hard as it is to believe, the plan to bring Lee Child's iconic Jack Reacher to TV viewers first began in earnest back in 2018, and the casting process is only just starting to ramp up in early 2021. Thankfully, that means fans almost definitely won't be waiting another three years to see the beloved character popping up on Amazon Prime Video's Reacher. After all, there's only so many times one can watch the pair of Tom Cruise movies before the necessity for new live-action fare completely takes over.

Below, we're keeping an updated roundup of all the big Reacher cast members that have been announced for Season 1, with the prospect of follow-up seasons featuring different ensembles to match the one-book-per-season adaptation plans. (The first batch of episodes will focus on Lee Child's 1997 novel Killing Floor.) So be sure to bookmark the page and check back for more updates soon. But let's kick things off with the new and bigger, if not necessarily faster and stronger, Jack Reacher himself.

Alan Ritchson (Jack Reacher)

For the marquee role of the military cop/private investigator/all-around badass Jack Reacher – not to be confused with that other Jack show on Amazon – Amazon and Paramount landed actor Alan Ritchson, who definitely knows something about bringing fictional heroes to life on TV. Before landing a breakout role on the comedy Blue Mountain State, Ritchson portrayed Arthur "Aquaman" Curry on Smallville, and later joined a larger team of heroes for DC Universe/HBO Max's Titans, on which he still plays Hank "Hawk" Hall going into the upcoming third season. Ritchson was brought into the Jack Reacher cast in September 2020, so he's already had quite a bit of time to figure out his approach to the part, and fans no doubt hope it pays off in the final product.

Willa Fitzgerald (Roscoe Conklin)

Along with memorable roles in such shows as Royal Pains and PBS' 2017 Little Women adaptation, Willa Fitzgerald is arguably best known for heading up MTV's Scream reboot and USA's 2020 thriller Dare Me. But it's certainly possible her role in Reacher will eclipse everything that came before. In the new show, she'll be playing the character from the novel named Roscoe Conklin (who may or may not have been named after the 19th century politician Roscoe Conkling). FItzgerald's Roscoe is a born-and-raised resident of the show's setting, Margrave, Georgia, where she is a brainy and confident police officer who doesn't get intimidated very easily. Or at all.

Malcolm Goodwin (Oscar Finlay)

Actor and burgeoning filmmaker Malcolm Goodwin spent five seasons as the practical-minded Seattle detective Clive Babineaux, and he'll be taking on another fictional law enforcement gig for Reacher. In the new project, Goodwin will take on the book character of Oscar Finlay, a recent recruit to the Margrave Police Department. The situation possibly isn't ideal for Oscar, who grew up in the North and boasts a Harvard education to go along with his distinct style.

Chris Webster (KJ)

British actor Chris Webster was recently a prime antagonist for Liam Hemsworth's Quibi thriller Most Dangerous Game, and it definitely sounds like his next streaming TV character will feature similarly questionable morals. In Reacher, Webster will play a character named KJ the son of Margrave benefactor and self-made businessman Kliner. Because of his father's power, KJ works under the belief that the town and its citizens are his property, especially Roscoe. I think we can all expect for that to go badly for KJ, though possibly not before Roscoe suffers a setback or two.

For now, those are the only central castings that have been announced for Amazon Prime Video's Reacher, which is set to debut on the streaming service either in late 2021 or early 2022, depending on how the filming process goes. Once again, remember to check back for more updates as new cast members are added.

Adapting a beloved novel for a movie or television series is no easy task, just ask the Game of Thrones show runners. Most book adaptations are forced to leave out a number of details from the source material due to runtime constraints, which may upset longtime fans. However, the upcoming Jack Reacher series at Amazon has a smart way of navigating the dense source material.

Alan Ritchson, who will play the iconic Jack Reacher in the television series, recently revealed exactly how the show will cover the long-running book franchise. He shared the details on Amazon’s upcoming adaptation in an interview with Collider:

According to Ritchson, the team behind Jack Reacher will be covering a book every season. He went on to explain why the approach would be so enjoyable for fans, highlighting the slow burning thrills that the books are known for. Hopefully, this means that the cast and crew will be able to cover more territory from each novel, without having to leave plot sections on the cutting room floor.

The Jack Reacher series is based upon the popular book franchise by British author Lee Child. Since releasing the first entry, Killing Floor, in 1997 Child has written a total of 25 Jack Reacher novels, selling over 60 million copies world-wide. The books follow Jack Reacher, a former US Army Major, who doles out vigilante justice in his escapades across the United States and Europe.

It sounds like Amazon will be picking up the story right where it all started and then devoting a season to each subsequent book, which may please fans of the series. The upcoming Amazon show isn’t the first time Jack Reacher (not to be confused with Amazon’s Jack Ryan) has been adapted. Hollywood icon Tom Cruise starred in 2012’s Jack Reacher and it’s 2016 sequel Jack Reacher: Never Go Back.

While the big screen adaptations weren’t necessarily loved by critics, they made a decent chunk of change at the box office. I can only imagine how they would have played out if Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson wasn’t passed over for the titular role of Jack Reacher. Despite interest from Tom Cruise himself, a more visceral third entry into the Jack Ryan movie series has been shelved.

Fans of the Jack Reacher series may be in for a wait. While the idea of dedicating a whole season to each book is certainly promising, it will undoubtedly take a bit more time to complete. As of now, there’s no release date for the show, but you can stay up to date on the latest heading to a small screen near you with CinemaBlend’s 2021 winter and spring premiere schedule.

There’s been a thing that has happened to me several times over the last few months and I’m not proud of it. I’ve been online reading about or scanning headlines related to Jack Reacher and every time without fail I’ve thought, ‘Oh good, glad to see Jack Ryan Season 3 is finally moving forward.’ As a critic and an avid reader I understand that Jack Ryan and Jack Reacher are different characters, but I’m still having some problems here. As it turns out, I’m not alone.

Here’s the gist: Both Jack Ryan and Jack Reacher are white dudes known for physical fitness. Both have military backgrounds and both shows are set up on Amazon Prime. I hypothesize it’s the latter that’s the real problem, as when a person actually looks into casting and creative teams as well as the nitty gritty of the characters and stories there isn’t much in common between the shows. But if the similarities between the names are fooling even someone like me, a person well-versed in the content that is upcoming and currently available, I get the feeling this could be problematic for others as well.

In fact, I know it is, because I’m not someone who wants to be the only person in the room making a mistake alone. So, I looked into it and plenty of people are just like me on the Internet. One poor soul even got a lot further along before realizing the mistake she’d made on Twitter:

Some people kind of seem to enjoy being willfully ignorant about Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan and Lee Child’s Jack Reacher, however. Critic Angie Han also seems to have the same troubles I do, but also took a bit more of a comedic bent on Twitter:

The Twitter-verse can sometimes even be helpful about explaining the nuances between Jack Reacher and Jack Ryan. For example:

To clarify this point once and for all, Jack Ryan is the show that has already been on Amazon Prime for a while based on a character created by Tom Clancy that has also cropped up on the big screen multiple times. John Krasinski is in ridiculously good shape to play the titular role and he has a great on-screen partner in Wendell Pierce. Actually, it may be my favorite bromance on TV right now, which is why I feel particularly bad about continually thinking about the wrong TV series when the other show’s name crops up.

Jack Reacher, on the other hand, is not a TV series that’s out yet, though there are two Tom Cruise movies with that title that do exist in the universe. (Making things even weirder, Tom Cruise really isn’t even the right size to play Jack Reacher, but I digress.) The Amazon series more recently cast Alan Ritchson in the role. He’ll play the famous former U.S. Major that will be based on The Killing Floor, the first of Lee Child’s books about the character. But nuances don’t help calm some of the people in the world who are annoyed with all these Jack’s, particularly given both are setup at Amazon.

And just in case you want to complicate things further, Michael B. Jordan also has a project setup at Amazon based on another of Tom Clancy’s works, Without Remorse. In that one, Jordan won’t play a Jack. But he will play a “John,” U.S. Navy SEAL John Clark. Good luck keeping track of all of those, everyone.

Amazon has been carving out some space for men named Jack. First came the John Krasinski-starring Jack Ryan; now, it’s Jack Reacher’s turn. Amazon has been developing the TV adaptation based on Lee Child’s best-selling book series for the past year. Most will remember that Tom Cruise starred as Jack Reacher in the film adaptation and the sequel Jack Reacher: Never Go Back. However, Child and Amazon execs decided to go a different route by casting a Titans star in the lead role.

Alan Ritchson has been cast to play Jack Reacher, a former major in the U.S. military who takes up investigating jobs deemed suspicious and dangerous. Per Deadline, the first season of the Amazon series will be based on Lee Child’s first Jack Reacher novel, The Killing Floor. The Amazon series will be executive produced, written, and showrun by Nick Santora.

When the series was first announced, Lee Child confirmed that Tom Cruise would not be back to play the titular character. The primary reason cited was that Cruise didn’t fit the physical description from the books (the character is 6’5” and Cruise is 5’7”). Meanwhile, Amazon President Jennifer Salke added that they were “determined to find somebody who can embody that character” for Child and the fans.

That person turned out to be Alan Ritchson, whose 6’4” stature is more in line with the character’s description from the books, and I’d wager that this casting news will likely please the most ardent of Jack Reacher fans. That said, it’d be remiss to ignore what Tom Cruise did for the character. 2012’s Jack Reacher introduced him to a larger audience and, despite height complaints, Cruise is a well-known action star who helped put Jack Reacher on more people’s radar.

On Titans, Alan Ritchson plays Hank Hall/Hawk alongside series stars Anna Diop, Minka Kelly, and Brenton Thwaites. The DC Universe series was renewed for Season 3 last year, and Ritchson recently attended a panel for the DC FanDome event to discuss the upcoming season. At the moment, it’s unclear when Titans will go back into production, but the actor will reportedly be working on both series. That’s good news for anyone who was worried that Ritchson’s new job would impact his role on Titans.

Alan Ritchson also appeared as Arthur Curry/Aquaman in four episodes of Smallville, as young Scully on NBC’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and as Gloss in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, among several other projects. However, he’s perhaps best known for his role as Thad Castle in the sports comedy Blue Mountain State.

Jack Reacher does not yet have a premiere date, but stay tuned to CinemaBlend for updates on the Amazon series. In the meantime, be sure to check out our 2020 fall TV premiere guide for more options.

Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie have had a fruitful relationship over the past several years, with the pair churning out several successful installments in the Mission: Impossible franchise. And of course, the two are currently working away on two more installments. However, some may forget that they also worked together on 2012’s Jack Reacher, which didn’t quite connect with audiences in the way that their other franchise has. Even though the original film and the 2016 sequel didn’t perform that well, the two did still have ideas for a third movie.

Christopher McQuarrie recently revealed that he and Tom Cruise discussed potential ideas for a third film in Cruise’s Jack Reacher franchise and were hoping to take the character into a darker, R-rated direction:

This would’ve been a complete departure from what was seen from the first two installments of the Jack Reacher franchise, and it honestly would have been an interesting change of pace. Although fans may be disappointed that they won’t get to see this kind of take on Reacher, McQuarrie also confirmed to Empire Magazine that he and Cruise are cooking up a very “un-Cruise” character that’s even darker than their idea for Jack Reacher 3:

The idea of a darker Jack Reacher starring Tom Cruise is definitely interesting, but hearing that he and Christopher McQuarrie are developing a darker character is even more intriguing. While Tom Cruise has more than proven to be a versatile actor, a number of the characters he plays, especially in action films, tend to have similar qualities. Most are edgy but well-meaning heroes looking to fight for the greater good.

With this, it would be great to see Tom Cruise sink his teeth into a more sinister role, especially in an action-heavy film. And under the direction of Christopher McQuarrie, it could really be something special.

Christopher McQuarrie didn’t give too many specifics when discussing this “un-Tom” character, but let’s hope that the project comes shortly after he and Cruise complete their work on those Mission: Impossible sequels.

Mission: Impossible 7, Cruise and McQuarrie’s next cinematic venture, is set to hit theaters on November 19, 2021.

Every actor has at least one role that they desperately wanted and didn’t get. Some may never reveal theirs, because the wound is still too deep. Others, like Dwayne Johnson, have no problem sharing their career disappointments -- in fact, he recently got real about what it felt like to lose out on Jack Reacher.

In between his daily home workouts, Dwayne Johnson has been spending his time online, much like the rest of us. In the proces, he’s been opening up to fans in a series of live chats on his social media. During a Q&A session on his Facebook page, a fan asked him if there was a role he ever wanted but didn’t get, and he didn’t hesitate to answer: yes, with the role being the titular hero in Jack Reacher. He told fans he really thought he might have a shot, given the character description, but that he was left disappointed. He was also pretty blunt in his assessment of how casting works:

Dwayne Johnson didn’t get where he is based on luck. He’s worked hard,and has proven himself to be incredibly savvy and knowledgeable about how Hollywood operates. So, it’s not a surprise that he can look back on this career low and understand why it happened:

Despite his initial disappointment, Dwayne Johnson is actually glad he didn't get the role since he wouldn't have been given much room to change aspects of Jack Reacher due to him being an established figure:

It’s easy to see why he’d see the Jack Reacher loss as a blessing in disguise. Because he wasn’t tied to that role, he had room in his schedule to join the Fast & Furious franchise, which helped propel him to further stardom. So even though losing out on the movie may have temporarily hurt his feelings, it definitely didn’t hurt his career. Fans who want to see Johnson's latest Fast & Furious outing, Hobbs & Shaw, can stream it on Hulu now.

Tom Cruise is freaking insane. I’m not talking about him jumping on the couch or his personal life at all. I’m talking about the characters he plays in his movies. The dude gets totally absorbed in any character he embodies. And this can be scary at times since he usually does his own stunts. This means that’s him running along the side of a building!

Over Tom Cruise’s long career, he’s played a multitude of characters, some tame, some not tame. But this list is not about the tame characters. It’s about the hardcore ones! Now, “hardcore” is a very subjective word, and you might not think that some of these characters are really all that metal at first glance. But just hear me out. Every one of these characters is hardcore with a capital H. Or should I say a capital TC? Actually, no, that doesn’t make any sense. Well, anyway, on with the list!

10. Joel Goodson (Risky Business)

Joel Goodson (Get it? Good? Son? Goodson!) is a good kid. Or so one would think. But that’s before his parents leave him alone with a house to himself and he starts dancing around in his underwear and having sex on the subway.

But what makes Joel Goodson hard freaking core is when he starts dealing with Guido the killer pimp! Madness ensues. I mean, just imagine. You’re a high school kid with your whole life ahead of you, and when the college admission dude comes to your house to interview you, you slap him on the knee (while a party is going on right behind you, no less), toss on some shades and drop an F-bomb right in front of him. You don’t get much more hardcore than that.

9. Frank T.J. Mackey (Magnolia)

“Respect the cock!” A lot of people like to think this is a game, but it’s not. At least not when it comes to motivational speaker, Frank T.J. Mackey. Frank T.J. Mackey is so hardcore that he can thrust his crotch in front of cheering men and still make it not seem homoerotic when it definitely is, and is most likely meant to be.

Frank T.J. Mackey is so hardcore though because he can go on an interview and straight up LIE about his family history, and then profanely ask the interviewer what her question was again. That takes commitment.

8. Les Grossman (Tropic Thunder)

First Joel "Good son" and now Les “Gross Man”. Well, at least these last names aren’t subtle. But Les from Tropic Thunder does not give a crap about what you think. It's his way or the highway. He’s a studio exec and he’s going to save this sinking ship of a production, even if somebody else's life depends on it.

Les Grossman is so hardcore that he can get some heroin runners on the phone and shut them the hell up. You know why? Because he’s Les freaking Grossman. He’s also one hell of a dancer. Side note: what’s with Tom Cruise and dancing? He really loves to bust a move.

7. Barry Seal (American Made)

Based on a real life person, Barry Seal (At least in the movie, American Made) starts out working with the CIA, then ends up smuggling drugs. And then guns! Of course he manages to attract the attention of the DEA in the process.

But he’s a great flyer. Not quite Maverick-great (I’ll get to him later), but damn good all the same. And anybody who can run from the DEA and laugh about it is hardcore in my book.

6. Jack Reacher

Even though the author, Lee Child, thinks Tom Cruise is too old to play Jack Reacher (and also, apparently, too short) Tom Cruise proves that he can still kick some ass, even into his 50s.

What makes Jack Reacher so hardcore is that he’s a street fighter and a sick driver. He's also tough as nails. Ask Jack Reacher who the hell he is, and he’ll tell you. He’s the guy you didn’t count on. Just proving that age and height ain’t nothing but numbers.

5. Major William Gage (Edge of Tomorrow)

Major William Gage is having a rough day. Again and again and again. After “dying” in a brutal war with some space creatures, he wakes up the day before it happened only to find that he keeps ending up in a loop, a la Groundhog Day.

But unlike Bill Murray's character, Major William Gage learns to become a complete bad ass, dying over and over again until he’s ready for full battle mode. And what’s more hardcore than being willing to die a grisly death after grisly death until you finally “git gud"? When the hell is the sequel coming out? That’s what I want to know.

4. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Top Gun)

Maverick is on a highway to the danger zone every second of his life. He’s a reckless man, often taking risks that the higher ups don’t like, but when it comes to a dogfight, he’s the guy you want backing you up.

Maverick is hardcore because he always feels the need for speed. Plus, his inverted maneuver shouldn’t even be possible in an actual dogfight. Only the hardcore need apply. I’m super psyched for the sequel.

3. Lestat (Interview With the Vampire)

You can only truly tell how hardcore Lestat is when you compare him to his apprentice, Louis. Lestat likes drinking human blood. Louis, played by Brad Pitt, is drinking from rats because he doesn’t want to hurt humans. Louis drinks a girl’s blood because he can’t help it during the plague. Lestat turns said girl into a vampire.

But the most hardcore scene of Lestat is when he drinks some swamp creatures' blood after the little girl and Louis try to kill him, and he greets them again by playing a Piano Sonata. How can it be? Well, it’s because “there’s life in these old hands still.”

2. Vincent (Collateral)

Vincent is so hardcore that he takes a cab to his killings. As a no-nonsense hitman, Vincent is probably Tom Cruise’s most badass character to date. But this list isn’t about being badass. It’s about being hardcore, and Vincent is that, too.

He kills people over a briefcase, can survive a car crash, and even makes his driver tell his boss that he’s going to shove the taxi cab right up his fat ass. Because not only is Vincent hardcore, but he also wants to make other people hardcore, too. How nice of him.

1. Ethan Hunt (Mission: Impossible-Rogue Nation)

Ethan Hunt could have filled up almost this entire list since he gets more and more hardcore in every Mission: Impossible movie. Really, you just have to take your pick. And it’s all the more impressive because Tom Cruise does his own stunts in these movies, making the danger factor even more extreme.

But what’s your favorite Ethan Hunt moment? Is it the one where he’s running on the side of a building in Ghost Protocol? What about the motorcycle scene in Rogue Nation? The motorcycle scene in Fallout? Seriously, every action scene is more hardcore than the last. But my favorite is definitely when Ethan Hunt is hanging onto a plane as it’s taking off in Rogue Nation. Like, what is wrong with Tom Cruise? Is he nuts?

He is! And that’s why he’s so awesome. Lee Child might think he’s too old to keep doing these action movies, but as long as the man has hardcore in his heart, why not? Long live Tom Cruise!

Much like Jack Ryan before him, Jack Reacher will be given a new lease on life through a forthcoming streaming series, courtesy of Amazon. What entails for this new show, based on the character created by Lee Child, is left in question, though it will need to follow in the footsteps of Tom Cruise's 2012 movie of the same name, along with its 2016 sequel, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back. Therefore, fans of both the books and the blockbusters have certain expectations for what this TV series should be. Instead of following Cruise's footsteps, however, the producers/showrunners should divert their attention elsewhere. Specifically, they should study the John Wick movies when it comes to their latest re-imagining of Child's most famous character.

As Amazon is looking to provide a fresh take on the Jack Reacher property, there are a few vital lessons they could learn from John Wick when it comes to reinventing its property and giving the hit character a fresh coat of paint. Here are some things that Jack Reacher should study from John Wick!

Great Fight Choreography

Above all else, what really makes the John Wick movies so extraordinary are their exceptional action scenes. The first movie was directed by a pair of former stuntmen, and the craftsmanship that goes in the fight choreography goes a long way. So many action movies prior to John Wick didn't seem to spend a lot of time preparing good fight choreography. Man, did it show. Thankfully, John Wick came around and showed everyone how it's done, as it produced a number of high octane action sequences that were brutal and unrelenting in their execution. It was top-notch stuff; it inspired many other action directors to step up their game and produce some at least semi-decent fight scenes for their audiences.

Notably, Jack Reacher's first movie was benefitted by its old-fashioned action attitude, but the TV series should feature a few expert fight scenes to show us why this character is the real deal, and why you don't want to mess with him any day of the day. Hopefully, Jack Reacher is also inspired by all the hard work and all the great lengths that go into making these movies as hard-hitting as they are — thus producing a fitfully exhilarating streaming series that constantly provides us the goods.

Good Casting

One reason why John Wick works so damn well is because it knows how to play to Keanu Reeves' strengths as both an actor and action performer. It's a performance that's both cool and commanding, allowing Reeves' muted expressions to serve as the character's guarded demeanor — built from many years of playing "kill or be killed" with various mercenaries, including both foes and friends. But in the right moments, it can also be a fitfully emotional performance, perhaps more so than people give Reeves credit. And the dude knows his action. He can kick a lot of butt. Both his knowledge and his experience with martial arts training serve him well in this trilogy of action-packed movies.

Hopefully, when it comes to casting Jack Reacher, they find a star that brings the right cool edge to the part, beyond the height requirements and other elements needed to fit the character description. If they can find an actor that captures the slick edge of the character, while also getting us invested in his emotional journey in key moments, they're set.

Simple Story In The Service Of Character, Action And World Building

Another reason why 2014's John Wick became such an unexpected success is because it keeps the characters focused squarely on their story. While the sequels started to move away from this concept, adding several different plot points and worldly destinations throughout the course of the movies, one of the keys to the original John Wick's success was its straightforward simplicity. A world-class assassin quits the business to be with the woman he loves, only to tragically lose her some time later. In the process of grieving, John Wick receives an unexpected dedication of her love in the form of a cute little puppy, whom he cherishes with all Hi. heart. But when John pisses off some smarmy rich douches, these cruel dirtbags beat him up and do seemingly the unthinkable: they kill his dog. In an act of burning vengeance, John Wick guns them all down, working his way up to the mobster father.

John Wick decidedly kept the plot-at-hand simple so that the other elements, including character, action, and world building more extravagant. That's also something that Amazon's Jack Reacher should consider too — especially as it lays out its plotting. The books by Lee Child aren't remembered for their intricate plots; they're good at keeping things simple and packing a punch, and that's something that will hopefully be found in this new TV series.

Careful Attention To The Look And Feel Of The Action

Following a number of Bourne-inspired action movies that copied the shaky cam style of Paul Greengrass without the focus or high level of insanity, resulting in a fair number of visually catastrophic movies, John Wick was refreshingly slick and precise in its visual presentation. The action was like a ballet, both precise and graceful but never without feeling nor calculated to the point of losing their momentum. It was an exceptionally crafted piece of action cinema, and it helped to usher in an era of genre movies where filmmakers took extra care (or, at least, more care) to make sure they brought at least some of the goods.

Hopefully, Amazon's Jack Reacher will also follow in John Wick's influence and create an exciting, visually stunning TV show. The first Jack Reacher movie had a fine sense of style and visual flair, and it would be great to see the new TV series have that same sense of style too.

Bad-Ass Supporting Characters

Beyond the title character of John Wick, the John Wick movies pride themselves on building their assassin-friendly violent world with a number of fun, memorable supporting characters along the way. In order to keep these movies in a heightened, extreme world, there are a number of bizarre, strange, or simply over-the-top (in an enjoyable way) supporting characters that keep John Wick on his toes. So many action movies don't take as much time to build absurd characters. John Wick fills the frame with any number of memorable characters, and it produces an even more fun night at the movies in the process. Jack Reacher could easily benefit from allowing its own supporting characters to bring their own memorable ticks and quirks to the table.

The books feature a few distinctive personalities, many of whom serve as fitting villains for the characters, and they should get their time in this series.

Are you looking forward to Amazon's new Jack Reacher series? Do you love the John Wick movies? What are some other elements from the John Wick movies that the producers behind Jack Reacher should take to heart as they make this TV series? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Jack Reacher will live once more. Similar to how Amazon rejuvenated interest in Tom Clancy's famous literary character with their action-drama series, Jack Ryan, the streaming service is hoping to find the same luck with their latest literary adaptation. While Tom Cruise previously became Lee Child's famous character in two blockbuster movies, this reboot will give viewers a chance to spend more time with the popular character outside of the page and hopefully provide a new spin. But with Cruise no longer playing the part, the question is, which actor should become Jack Reacher in this show?

When it comes to famous literary characters, everyone has a different vision in their head of who the character should be. While Tom Cruise ultimately did a commendable job (at least in this writer's opinion) in the lead role, there were some stark differences between Tom Cruise's physicality and what some viewers expected in the role. Namely, Cruise was shorter than Jack Reacher's 6'5" height, which is a key detail that Amazon is keeping in mind in their casting process. 

The character is also known for being "smart" and "strong," while also being "an introvert" while also noting that Reacher has "no tedious self-pity." He's also believed to be at least in his late 30s. Therefore, when you keep these details in mind, here are some actors who could play the part of Jack Reacher in Amazon's streaming series. Also, let us know which actor you would like to see play Jack Reacher in this new reboot.

Joel Kinnaman

Known for his work on the big and small screen, Joel Kinnaman hasn't quite made it to megastar status just yet, but the actor has proven his reserved talents in some big projects, including (but not limited to) The Killing, House of Cards, Altered Carbon, 2014's RoboCop remake, and several other projects. The Suicide Squad actor is a tall glass of water at 6'2", which doesn't quite reach the 6'5" height intended for the character but it's close enough that studio magic could make it believable. Plus, his cold, yet calculated, demeanor has allowed him to play characters both intellectual and brooding, which would certainly play to the performer's advantage in this title role. He might be a little too busy for the part, but considering that he appeared in the streaming service's limited series, Hanna, the TV actor has established a working relationship with Amazon, one that might pay off for this part.

Joe Manganiello

At 6'5 and well-built with a steely gaze, there's a lot of potential with Joe Manganiello in the title role. While he has transitioned to the big screen on a few occasions, notably with the Magic Mike movies and a brief end credits cameo in Justice League, Manganiello is primarily known for his TV work, most notably True Blood, and he hasn't been attached to a major show since the vampire series left the air. Amazon's Jack Reacher series would give the actor his next major television role, and it would provide him with another opportunity to prove his diverse talents. Like some of the other actors on this list, he's a bit on the older side for a character who is supposed to be in his late 30s, but close enough and Manganiello has pretty much everything else working in his favor to play Jack Reacher.

Kevin Durand

You might not recognize Kevin Durand by name, but there's a good chance that you're familiar with his work. The character actor has been working on both the big and small screen for an number of years, with a few of his most noteworthy projects being Lost, The Strain, Vikings, Ballers, Robin Hood, X-Men: Origins: Wolverine, and Smokin' Aces, to name a mere few. A tall lad at 6'6", even taller than the part requires, and a well-built actor who has dynamic range, this role would be a great showcase for a performer who has proven himself in a number of smaller roles but has rarely gotten the chance to take the center stage. Certainly since he's not reported to be working on any projects, which seemingly gives him the freedom to play this lead role.

Timothy Olyphant

Best known for his work on Justified and Santa Clarita Diet, as well as Hitman, Timothy Olyphant is a very talented actor with accomplishments on the silver screen and the small one, and he could use another big project to prove his well-versed talents. Jack Reacher would serve as a good project for his dependable talents. The 6'0" actor isn't the tallest on this list, but he has the steely gaze and the determined look that could be a good fit for the title role. Plus, the Deadwood star knows how to command a role, being both vulnerable and brooding in the right measure. It would suit him well.

Alexander Skarsgard

Known for working on the big and small screen in equal measures, Alexander Skarsgard might be the most high profile of the choices found here, but he would still be a solid pick for the role — assuming he can make it work. Skarsgard is better known for his TV work, including True Blood, Generation Kill, and Big Little Lies, though he has starred in some high-profile films too, including The Legend of Tarzan, Melancholia, and the forthcoming Godzilla vs. Kong. 

The 6'4" actor has the right height for the part. Also, in the right role, Alexander Skarsgard can seem introverted and unassuming, but in other roles (or sometimes, the same role), the TV-film actor can crank up the menace and prove that he's nobody you want to mess with. That could certainly work towards his favor in the role of Jack Reacher. He's currently attached to The Stand, but if he can make it work, he'd be good here.

These are just a few actors who could stand out in this role. Though there's a good chance that the producers will, perhaps go for an actor who's lesser known, we think these might be good picks for the part — assuming they were available and interested int his intriguing role. Let us know who you would like to see play Jack Reacher in Amazon's new series in the comments below!

Adapting a book into a movie always comes with a massive weight of fan expectations. So when a 5’8 Tom Cruise stepped into the role of Jack Reacher in 2012, some fans were let down by the production’s ignorance of the source material. The movie’s flack has resulted in a reboot being developed over at Amazon Studios with the search for another Jack underway.

But, Jack Reacher writer and director Christopher McQuarrie is reminding fans of a few meticulous details his team made sure to stay true to the books. Check it out:

So there! The Mission Impossible filmmaker regularly takes to Twitter to answer fan questions and the topic of his 2012 film came up this week. As he states, Tom Cruise was given specific scars to match points throughout the book series… but nobody noticed! The actor may not have been the right look for the investigator, but they certainly put some work into keeping his appearance true to the novels.

One fan asked him if a specific bullet wound from the source material was in Jack Reacher as well, he responded as such:

Pretty crazy, huh? It sounds like Christopher McQuarrie and the crew worked really hard to put in these details and felt they were overshadowed by other issues taken with the film franchise. However, some fans did respond to McQuarrie to tell the filmmaker they did notice these details and appreciated them being placed in Jack Reacher.

The 2012 release was a big hit – making $218 globally on a $50 million budget. It marked the first of many collaborations between Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie, who made Edge of Tomorrow, Mission: Impossible: Rogue Nation, and Fallout. The pair are gearing up to shoot the Mission: Impossible 7 and 8 back-to-back for summer 2021 and 2022 release dates.

McQuarrie did not return for 2016’s Jack Reacher: Never Go Back and the sequel wasn’t received well among audiences and critics. Now, the author of the Jack Reacher books, Lee Child, is working on the reboot television series for Amazon. A big factor the executives are making sure of this time is to get the character’s 6’5 build right.

Lee Child recently called Tom Cruise “too old” to continue Jack Reacher anyway, advising him to step away from action projects and do character work. Despite being 57, the actor has certainly shown his ability to impress – frequently doing his own stunts. Will Smith even tried to emulate the actor for Bad Boys For Life and couldn’t do it.

Stay tuned for more details on the Jack Reacher series! Tom Cruise will soon reprise his Top Gun role in Maverick on June 26, 2020.