Before Alan Ritchson became the definitive Jack Reacher for a new generation, Tom Cruise brought the character to life in two feature films. Now, the author behind the books says those stories could get a second life on Prime Video—this time with Ritchson in the lead.
Lee Child, who created the towering ex-military drifter, recently opened up about the possibility of revisiting One Shot and Never Go Back, the novels that inspired Cruise's movies. While Cruise's casting was controversial among fans who felt the actor didn't match Reacher's imposing 6'5" frame, Child has no hard feelings. In fact, he sees the TV series as a chance to give those tales the treatment they deserve.
"In my mind, they're not done now," Child said. "I would revisit them absolutely, but I think not as a matter of urgency. Let's do something that hasn't been done in any medium yet." He added that the Cruise adaptations are "on the back burner, rather than the next one."
Child has long championed streaming over film for his work. "My preference is for streaming television. Simply for that running time you've got. It's such a luxury," he explained. "Feature films are so tight that it's an absolute joy to have time to do all the little bits, the quiet bits, the fun bits, and the tender bits." That philosophy has paid off: Reacher has become one of Prime Video's biggest hits, with Ritchson's performance earning widespread praise.
For now, the series is charging ahead with new material. Season 4 will adapt Gone Tomorrow, the 13th novel in Child's series. The story kicks off with a tense encounter on a New York City subway train that spirals into a conspiracy. Interestingly, Child once called Gone Tomorrow one of the most frustrating books he ever wrote. During a conversation with Stephen King, he joked that his initial attempt at geographic accuracy made the manuscript read like "a MapQuest page on acid." The TV adaptation will take a more streamlined approach.
Season 4 is also shaping up to be the most action-packed yet. Ritchson recently revealed the season will feature 30 fight sequences across eight episodes, a record for the series. That's great news for fans who love the show's brutal, bone-crunching brawls.
If the series does circle back to One Shot and Never Go Back, both novels offer rich material. One Shot pits Reacher against a sniper, forcing him to rely on more than just muscle. Never Go Back pulls him into a conspiracy tied to his military past. Both remain fan favorites and could benefit from the longer format of streaming.
While fans wait for news on those adaptations, they can catch up on earlier seasons or check out other Prime Video hits like 'Fourth Wing,' which could be the epic fantasy answer to 'Game of Thrones'. And for those who want to see Ritchson in a different role, his TMNT role is getting a streaming boost on Apple TV.
For now, Child's comments make one thing clear: the door is open for a fresh take on Cruise's Reacher movies, but the priority is delivering new adventures that haven't been seen before. As the series continues to dominate streaming, fans have plenty to look forward to.
