$400M Action Saga But Disappointing Sequel: Tom Cruise Heading For 3rd Movie?

After two films released in 2012 and 2016, Jack Reacher has not given any sign of life in the cinema. Will Tom Cruise’s role as a former US Military Police Major return for Episode 3 and complete his trilogy?

11 years ago, the first feature film scored well at the box office, collecting $218 million worldwide on a budget of $60 million. The public responded and the critics were quite enthusiastic.

After 4 years, the second part, disappointed, was received not so enthusiastically. If Jack Reacher 1 was directed by Christopher McQuarrie (Mission Impossible 5,6,7,8), the second one was directed by Edward Zwick, who had already collaborated with Tom Cruise on The Last Samurai in 2003.

JACK REACHER 3, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE?

Shot on the same budget of 60 million GEL, this sequel was less successful at the global box office, grossing only $162 million (in France, the two feature films brought in 2.3 million viewers). After this lackluster performance, the third film project was buried. Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie have focused on the upcoming Mission Impossibles and haven’t talked about the character anymore.

In 2020, Jack Reacher is back in a brand new project: a TV series for Amazon Prime Video. Tom Cruise, who traveled to another sky, it was Alan Ritchson who was chosen to play this experienced soldier. A true colossus, the actor physically matches the description of the hero in the novels of Lee Child, the creator of Jack Reacher. The character is estimated to be 1m96 tall.

In 2012, a smaller Tom Cruise was chosen to play Jack Reacher, to the detriment of fidelity to the British author’s vision. He beat another now famous actor: Dwayne Johnson.

“Is there a role that I really wanted but lost to another actor? Yes. That role was Jack Reacher. That actor was Tom Cruise. Business is business and I’m happy for him. But the world is acting strangely because one door was closed on me, another one was opened for me to reinvent myself. A character that was in my DNA: Luke Hobbs Fast & Furious“, Johnson confided on Instagram in April 2020.

Is Tom Cruise too old for action movies?

In addition, in Times columnsLee Child did not hesitate to criticize Tom Cruise, considering him “very old” for action movies. “He was very invested and wanted to fight to keep the franchise going. It sounds very condescending, but I think it’s good for him not to play that role anymore. He’s too old for that.”said the English writer in November 2019.

“He’s 57, he needs to move on, play composite roles. He’s still got 20 years of his career ahead of him. He’s got the talent for it. He’s a great guy, very attentive and very funny.”4 years ago, he concluded.

In 2018, St An interview given to the BBCLee Child has already expressed doubts about the physicality of Tom Cruise in the role of Jack Reacher, who in the novels is much more massive than the Hollywood star. At the same time, he announced the development of a series around the character and indicated that he was looking for a new actor.

Therefore, this project will be launched in 2020. Currently, the Reacher series has been renewed for a second season. It is available on Prime Video. At the moment, there is no talk of a 3rd movie in cinemas. Tom Cruise is still in great shape at 61, no offense to Lee Child, it’s possible he’ll return one day to complete the trilogy. In the meantime, we’ll find him in Mission Impossible 8 on June 26, 2024.