‘Reacher’: Alan Ritchson Channeled Jack Reacher Himself in One Heroic Moment
The Amazon Prime Video series Reacher has a new leading man to take over the mantle from actor Tom Cruise. Alan Ritchson has proved himself to be a version of Jack Reacher fans desperately needed that stuck to a more concrete version of the book character. The 6″2′ actor is not only impressive in size but embodies the character in a way fans never expected as Reacher’s Ritchson had a 2010 heroic moment.
‘Reacher’ gives the popular book character a new look
Based on the Jack Reacher book series by Lee Child, the Amazon series focuses on its main character never seen before on screen. Ritchson plays Jack Reacher, a decorated former major in the U.S. Army military police. He travels to Margrave, Georgia, under the ruse that he is there to learn about his brother’s favorite jazz musician.
Reacher immediately captures the attention of local police and its residents. The tall and muscular former soldier would cast a shadow over anyone. He soon learns Margrave is not the quiet and small town he thought it was. Reacher gets involved in a conspiracy, crime, murder and how it connects to his estranged brother.
Fans have gravitated toward the series for its depiction of the book character. In Reacher, the character often calls himself a drifter. Ritchson explained to the Hindustan Times he is just like his character in that way.
“There are parts of myself that I see in Reacher and vice versa. I’m a wanderer. I get bored easily. I started running away when I was 16. I wasn’t escaping any real trauma. I just had to go,” said Ritchson. The actor embodies the character even more, when it comes to seeking justice.
Alan Ritchson channeled Jack Reacher to stop a robbery
Years before Ritchson would take on Reacher; he already had the makings of a hero just like his character. The actor recounted an incident in 2010 when he chased down a robber. Despite his wife’s please and insistence not to get involved, Ritchson could not let crime win.
“I desire justice, and I’ll risk life and limb to see it happen. I remember watching a guy break into a car one time, and I chased him down. My wife was begging me, ‘Don’t do it. Don’t chase him down!’ and I had to because I saw him break into a car. I pinned him down until the cops came 20 minutes later. I can’t stand by and watch that kind of stuff happen,” said Ritchson.
Ritchson believed he was perfect for the role of Jack Reacher. Fans and showrunner Nick Santora feel the same. Santora explains Ritchson had to beat out other actors who fit the role, but there was something distinctive about Ritchson.
“But Alan is everything Reacher is supposed to be. Some actors might have to bulk up to play Reacher. Alan probably has to bulk down,” said the showrunner. Fans eagerly wait to see what more Ritchson can bring to the role in Reacher.
WIll there be a ‘Reacher’ Season 2 with Alan Ritchson?
Reacher will return for a season two as Amazon Prime greenlit a continuation three days after its premiere on Feb.4. Fans will get to see more of Ritchson as Jack Reacher as the first season’s finale left the door open to a new storyline.
Reacher will likely follow the book series closely like many series based on written source material. Ritchson has already teased following seasons will adapt a different book. Reacher Season 2 will likely follow Child’s second book, Die Trying.
