Tom Cruise was a beloved Jack Reacher. But he’s been properly dethroned, and the character won’t be the same.

Tom Cruise has played some iconic characters over the course of his career. One of these was Jack Reacher. He played the character in two movies, Jack Reacher and Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, and played him like the badass he is. But even though there may have been a third film on the horizon, that ship has sailed.

For many people, Cruise was not the best fit for who they thought should play Jack Reacher. But the big questions are who should play him, how should they act, and how should they even look? Regardless of what happens, the main thing to remember is that the franchise can never look back. Here’s why Tom Cruise won’t return to the character of Jack Reacher.

Who Is Jack Reacher?Paramount Pictures

In 1997, author Lee Child created the character of Jack Reacher for his first book, Killing Floor. The character is described with a very distinct build. He is said to have “a six-pack like a cobbled city street, a chest like a suit of NFL armor, biceps like basketballs, and subcutaneous fat like a Kleenex tissue.”

Reacher is also former military, which makes him a dangerous fighter, marksman, and strategist. However, when he left the military, it was not to fight more battles on his own, although that ended up happening to him. Part of what makes him so interesting is his personality. His stoic nature does not mean that he is without humor. However, he is completely self-sufficient, ensuring he does not need to rely on anyone to survive. Often, Child describes him as someone who gives respect when it is earned and is only concerned with justice being served. This does not always mean he needs to be in the driver’s seat, but it does mean he will see a plan through to the end.

One of the major aspects of Reacher’s life is that he is a drifter. This does not mean that he drives his car around the country. It means that he has no identification, no bank accounts, and nothing that can be traced without an overwhelming amount of research. His military records do exist, and they are often referenced, but he goes to great lengths to keep himself anonymous. He is said to travel with cash, a single toothbrush, and nothing else. In fact, when his clothing becomes old or soiled, he simply buys new ones and trashes the old ones. There is nothing to hold him down and nothing to hold him back.

Cruise vs Ritchson

As previously stated, Reacher was played by Tom Cruise in two movies, Jack Reacher (2012) and Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016), both directed by Christopher McQuarrie. The first thing fans of the Lee Child books said was that he was nothing like his book character.

Cruise is known to be a bit on the shorter side, saying he is 5′ 7″. He is also shown as wearing various types of clothing at all times, often driving cars, and interacting with quite a number of people, often calling in favors and meeting with former mentors. These movies are obviously an interpretation of the character, but one that seems quite a bit off from the original intentions of the author.

In 2022, Prime Video released season one of their new show, Reacher. The season followed the plot of the first Jack Reacher novel, Killing Floor, and saw Alan Ritchson playing the title role. Ritchson is immediately recognizable as Jack Reacher. He has a quiet demeanor, but it is offset by his 6′ 2″ frame.

Had Lee Child seen Alan Ritchson before writing his books, nobody would have thought twice about where he found his inspiration. The character is shown stepping off a bus with nothing but a clean t-shirt and pants. He is clean-cut and perfectly shaved, with a look of curious disinterest. When we see him, we are immediately drawn to him and very much intimidated.

The Reacher TV show has proven that there is nothing wrong with a better interpretation of a character. We’ve seen it over and over again on TV, in movies, and everywhere in between. The first example would have to be the Joker from the Batman films. Most people loved Jack Nicholson but were blown away by Heath Ledger’s Joker. In fact, when Jared Leto made his attempt at the character, he was kicked around by audiences because he could never live up to the Ledger hype. Someone just happened to do it better.

The Reacher TV series has shown that not only is there an actor who looks the part, but one who can play it as well. Alan Ritchson embodies the Jack Reacher character in ways that Tom Cruise never could. Cruise is a bundle of energy. He’s set to go off like a time bomb. It’s why we love him and love watching him go nuts and do ridiculous stunts. Ritchson is a completely different beast. He doesn’t need to run or flip out. He needs to be measured, honest, and believable as a guy who can not only hold his own in a fight but also in a battle of wills.

If there were to be another Jack Reacher movie, Ritchson would be the first choice, and it would be a Prime Video original movie spun off from the show. Ritchson is Jack Reacher, full stop. To have Tom Cruise return would be an insult not only to Ritchson but also to Lee Child and the character himself.