Prime Video's Reacher universe is growing, and the next spin-off might center on a character fans first met in the Tom Cruise film era. Lee Child, the creator of Jack Reacher, has revealed that Susan Turner—played by Cobie Smulders in Jack Reacher: Never Go Back—could be the ideal lead for another series.
In an exclusive chat with Collider, Child confirmed that Turner's expanded role in the new novel Chain Reaction makes her a prime candidate for her own show. "I was glad that Andrew brought back Susan Turner," Child said. "Good character, but also a spin-off opportunity because we've already got Neagley, and Amazon tends to want as much as possible if it's working. And so, do they want another spin-off? In which case, she'll do."
Turner now holds the rank of general and commands CSA G-99 Section, an elite military investigative unit that answers directly to the Army's Chief of Staff. Essentially, she runs the Army's version of the FBI—a premise ripe for a series that doesn't need Reacher to appear every week. As Child notes, the franchise is already expanding with Neagley, starring Maria Sten, and Amazon is keen to capitalize on its success.
Why Susan Turner Returned in 'Chain Reaction'
Andrew Child, who now spearheads the Reacher novels, explained that bringing back a familiar face solves a recurring writing challenge: giving Reacher a believable reason to get involved. "One of the main issues... is you always need a mechanism, like a hook, to bring him into the story," he told Collider. "Some sort of coincidence... So we have to be really careful not to make that part too incredible."
In Chain Reaction, Turner seeks Reacher's help after one of her investigators is murdered, pulling him into a conspiracy involving artificial intelligence and corporate espionage. Andrew noted that Turner's history with Reacher provides a "watertight method" for his involvement, avoiding eye-roll-inducing coincidences. The novel also explores their dynamic as equals—both once commanded the 110th Military Police Special Investigations Unit, but while Reacher left the military, Turner kept rising. Now a general, she outranks him, creating fertile ground for tension and respect.
"That's the dynamic that has to be right," Andrew said. "In this particular book, there's an extra element because... Reacher, with his military background, will defer to the general because there's also the hierarchy involved. So it's fun to play with those things."
With Chain Reaction hitting shelves on October 20 and a Frances Neagley novel co-written by Child and Yasmin Angoe due in Spring 2027, the Reacher empire shows no signs of slowing. And if Child gets his wish, Susan Turner could soon be leading her own charge on Prime Video.
For more on the franchise's streaming future, check out how Reacher faces AI in Chain Reaction and why Grisham's Rainmaker and Reacher are set for a Prime Video showdown.
