‘Reacher’: Alan Ritchson Was Once a Football Linebacker in a 2010 Comedy Series
The era of Tom Cruise as the action star Jack Reacher might be over. Amazon Prime Video released Reacher on Feb.4 based on the hit Jack Reacher book series by Lee Child. The TV show adaptation stars a new tall, big, and intimidating actor in the lead role. Alan Ritchson takes on the mantle of Jack Reacher in the Amazon series. There is no denying Ritchson embodies the role like never seen before.
Before his new standout role, Ritchson was known by some fans in a 2010 comedy series, Blue Mountain State.
Alan Ritchson played the role of Thad on ‘Blue Mountain State’
There is a long history of TV shows being cut in their prime before they can become a big hit. In 2010, Ritchson starred as one of the main characters in the series Blue Mountain State. The series has its own fan base who were enamored with its American Pie and college buffoonery style comedy.
Blue Mountain State is centered on a fiction university and its football team named the “Mountain Goats.” The series tackled common misconceptions and themes associated with an American college experience. The main characters dealt with sex, drugs, partying, fraternities, and everything in between.
Ritchson has been known for many different roles in his career before starring in Reacher. The actor has only had two major main roles. One role was Blue Mountain State as Kevin “Thad” Devlin Castle and in Blood Drive as Arthur Bailey. Ritchson’s character, Thad Castle is the football team’s captain and linebacker.
In the series, he is a gifted player but can rub his teammates the wrong way for his inappropriate conduct and high-strung antics. But he proves himself a commendable captain who wants to see his team succeed.
Alan Ritchson also gave off a brooding aura before his role in ‘Reacher’
It is hard not to notice Ritchson in a room due to his 6″2′ stature and muscular form. Ritchson made the perfect candidate to embody a new era of Jack Reacher in Reacher. Just like in the Amazon series, his physique and stature gave off an immediate impression when he auditioned for Thad in Blue Mountain State.
Speaking to Den of Geek, Ritchson explained he gave off a certain aura that made him perfect for Thad. “They wanted the douche character and I guess I was that. It’s funny though because it’s not that uncommon for people that get to know me, like new friends or acquaintances, I hear quite often ‘I thought you were a huge douchebag’ or ‘I thought you’d be a huge jerk’ and I get ‘well you’re actually a nice guy.’ I don’t know what I’m putting out there to make people assume that I’m just an a-hole,” said the actor.
It just so happens Ritchson’s muscular stature and overall impression when he walks into a room works for Reacher. The new TV version is intimidating in any room, but is an army veteran and advocate for justice and is good at sarcasm.
‘Reacher’ takes an amry veteran to a remote town
The story begins with a tall, intimidating yet handsome Jack Reacher arriving in Margrave, Georgia. The minute he sets foot in town causes problems and makes everyone aware of his presence. A simple mix-up as a murder suspect leads Reacher to become embroiled in a bigger crime.
Reacher stuns local authorities with his vast knowledge as a former major in the U.S. Army military police and his tactics. His trip to a remote town is not a coincidence when murders tie back to his brother, the rich facilitators of the town, and a conspiracy.
