Amazon Prime Video has cast actor Alan Ritchson (from Titans and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) to play the titular role of Jack Reacher in its highly anticipated Jack Reacher series. Of course, Alan Ritchson is not Tom Cruise, but he seems to be a compelling choice. For those not in the know, Tom Cruise had essayed the role of Jack Reacher in the movies based on the character.
Set in Georgia, Nick Santora who wrote, executive produced and is running the show, has adapted the the first Jack Reacher novel, ‘The Killing Floor’ of the series for the first season of the Amazon Prime Video series.
The Jack Reacher series starring Tom Cruise had been an ‘okay franchise’. The first film was a hit but the second film was not so. One of the major sticking points for fans as well as the author of the book series (of the same name) Lee Child himself, was Tom Cruise’s height. The character of Jack Reacher is supposed to be an imposing 6 feet 5 inches, while Tom Cruise has famously been short(er) at 5 feet 7 inches.
Lee Child enjoyed working with Cruise but felt that it was time for a change, to bring in a more ‘size appropriate’ character for the new web-series. The character of Jack Reacher is quite imposing; so imposing that when he walks into the room, people will become instantly nervous for a minute, says the billion-dollar franchise creator. It also wasn’t just Cruise’s height, Child was also looking for a younger actor for the series, who would be also be more available compared to Cruise’s busy schedule.
After going through multiple actors, Alan Ritchson with his 6 feet 4 inches and 230 pound physique, matches the character more closely (physically at least). With him being younger and having a more ‘free-er’ schedule than Cruise, he makes a good choice.
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