A new Jack Reacher series is in the works, as author Lee Child recently announced that the character would be headed to streaming. As for whether or not Tom Cruise will return to play the character he portrayed on film, Child said that wouldn't be happening, but his reason wasn't tied to Cruise's A-list Hollywood stardom. Child revealed that the character is getting a recast due to Cruise's short stature.
Lee Child explained that while no streaming service is officially in the mix to take on the Jack Reacher series, the new deal signed will signify the end of Jack Reacher films and lead to a new actor portraying the character in long-form content. BBC reported the author had heard some fans' complaints about Tom Cruise's on-screen representation of the character, because, in the novels he's described as being 6'5" with hands the size of dinner plates, but Cruise is only 5'7".
Despite his height, Tom Cruise helped Jack Reacher have a solid cinematic debut. The first film pulled in positive reviews from critics and around $218 million internationally. The sequel, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, didn't do as well with mixed reviews and box office take of around $162 million internationally. While Cruise's size may have certainly played a factor, the slowdown in success following the film's sequel might've prompted Lee Child to go in another direction.
As far as who the next man up to play Jack Reacher will be, Lee Child doesn't have any suggestions. He is open, however, to the suggestions of others who think they know the perfect person.
And I want all those readers who were upset about Tom Cruise to help me out - participate in choosing the right actor for the TV series. We're rebooting and starting over and we're going to try and find the perfect guy.
Lee Child may not be looking for an actor the exact same size and weight of Jack Reacher as he created him on the page, but he's certainly looking for someone who can match the character's physically intimidating presence. Child mentioned that while Cruise has plenty of talent, he didn't have the physically imposing look of the character that had the ability to make "people nervous just for that first minute."
Meanwhile, the stage is set for streaming services to start courting, given that Lee Child seems awfully intent on making Jack Reacher's next on-screen appearance an adventure that fans can watch there. The films both hit theaters with a PG-13 rating, so it's unknown if streaming is being pursued to perhaps bring a bit more edge to the franchise, or if it's just a personal preference of the author.
CinemaBlend will keep an ear to the ground regarding future developments in the Jack Reacher television series, while audiences in the meantime can immerse themselves in some great television. Check out the fall and midseason premiere guides for a breakdown of all shows coming in the near future.
