Jack Reacher author explains why book readers ‘were right’ to disapprove of Tom Cruise
‘They were terribly upset about it,’ Child said
Jacob Stolworthy
Saturday 15 February 2025 17:11 GMT
Lee Child has said that Jack Reacher readers were “right” not to approve of Tom Cruise’s casting in the film franchise.
Before Alan Ritchson assumed the role of the hulking action hero in Amazon’s hit Prime Video series, Cruise played the role in two films: Jack Reacher in 2012 and Jack Reacher: Never Go Back in 2016.
However, a contingent of book fans didn’t think the Hollywood star was right for the role due to his height. In Child’s books, Reacher is described as being “extremely tall” (he’s 6ft, 5in), and “extremely broad, long-armed and long-legged”. In real life, Cruise is 5ft, 7in.
Speaking to The Independent about the backlash to Cruise’s casting, author Child said that, while he “liked” working with the actor, “the readers, ultimately, were right” in their views.
“I thought the first movie in particular was excellent,” Child said. “It was a really crisp hard-edged thriller. Working with Tom was a pleasure and a privilege C he’s a really smart guy, he’s a smart filmmaker, he’s real fun. But you cannot escape the fact that Reacher is a huge guy.”
Child continued: “I mean, that is a component in his entire approach to the world and the world’s approach to him. He’s huge, he’s implacable, he’s scary, and for all Tom’s ability in getting the internals of Reacher out, he is not huge and he’s not scary. So the readers were terribly upset about it and I think, ultimately, the readers were right.”
The author thinks they have struck gold with Ritchson, who is returning to play the role in a third season based on Child’s seventh Reacher book Persuader. According to the author: “Alan was born to play Reacher and I think he knows that.”
