Daily Times

Tom Cruise is being replaced as action hero Jack Reacher in a forthcoming TV adaptation, after creator Lee Child admitted the Hollywood star – who played Reacher in two films – is too short.

In Child’s book, the former major in the US military police is described as 6ft 5in tall, with hands the size of dinner plates. Fans complained about Cruise’s suitability to play the imposing character in the films due to his height
of 5ft 7in.

“Cruise, for all his talent, didn’t have that physicality,” Child told BBC Radio Manchester, as he revealed that a deal had been signed to make a new streaming show.

“I really enjoyed working with Cruise,” he continued. “He’s a really, really nice guy. We had a lot of fun. But ultimately the readers are right. The size of Reacher is really, really important and it’s a big component of who he is.

“The idea is that when Reacher walks into a room, you’re all a little nervous just for that first minute… so what I’ve decided to do is – there won’t be any more movies with Tom Cruise. Instead we’re going to take it to Netflix or something like that. Long form streaming television, with a completely new actor.”

Child added: “And I want all those readers who were upset about Tom Cruise to help me out – participate in choosing the right actor for the TV series. We’re rebooting and starting over and we’re going to try and find the perfect guy.”

Cruise made his debut as Reacher in 2012, in the film directed and adapted by Christopher McQuarrie. It received mostly positive reviews from critics, and made £218m at the global box office. However, the sequel – Jack Reacher: Never Go Back – grossed $162m and received mixed reviews.

Published in Daily Times, November 17^th 2018.