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Jack Reacher is the protagonist of aseries of crime thriller novels by British authorLee Child,^[1] a2012 film adaptation, its2016 sequel, anda television series onAmazon Prime Video. In the stories, Jack Reacher was amajor in the U.S. Army'smilitary police. After leaving the army, Reacher roamed the United States, taking odd jobs, investigating suspicious and dangerous situations, and resolving them.

As of 24 October 2024^[update], there are 29 novels and short stories in theReacher series. Five of the novels were adapted for cinema and television. Two of the adaptations are films starringTom Cruise as Reacher:Jack Reacher (2012) from the ninth novel,One Shot; andJack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016) from the eighteenth novel,Never Go Back.

The third adaptation,Reacher, is a television series onAmazon Prime Video, starringAlan Ritchson. The first season, adapted from the first novel,Killing Floor, premiered on 4 February 2022. The second season, fromBad Luck and Trouble, premiered 14 December 2023. The third season, based on the bookPersuader, premiered on 20 February 2025.

Lee Child was unemployed when he wroteKilling Floor after being fired as aunion shop steward forGranada Television.^[1][2][3]

Child says he came up with the characters name because an old woman remarked on his own physique while asking him to reach for a can of pears in a supermarket. Many have commented on similarities between Child and his fictional character.^[1] Child tends to agree with such observations: "I was huge as a kid and Reacher's stature is me translated as a kid."^[4] Canadian journalistMalcolm Gladwell wrote inThe New Yorker of a difference between the symbolism of the Reacher character and of traditionalWestern characters:

The traditional Western was a fantasy about lawfulness: it was based on a longing for order among those who had been living without it for too long. The heroes conduct themselves according to strict rules of chivalry. They act—insofar as it is possible—with restraint. In the world we live in...we are overpoliced. Our contemporary fantasy is about lawlessness: about what would happen if the institutions of civility melted away and all we were left with was a hard-muscled, rangy guy who could do all the necessary calculations in his head to insure that the bad guy got what he had coming. That's why there are rarely any police in Reacher novels—or judges or courts or lawyers or any discussion or consideration of the law.^[5]

Others are critical of the various implausibilities and contradictions present in the character and his behavior.The Washington Post journalist Kevin Nance wrote:

The unlikelihoods and outright impossibilities stack up. Ever a frugal sort... Reacher travels mostly by hitchhiking... even though the practice is roughly as current as bellbottoms and even though his appearance is, as previously established, notably simian... (A)lthough he's a loner who seems never so happy—rather like Agent Cooper in "Twin Peaks"—as when sitting quietly in a diner with a cup of black coffee and a piece of pie, he has an uncanny knack for stumbling into the worst kinds of trouble, almost none of it connected to himself."^[6]

Michael Cavacini concurred, saying unlike traditionalwhodunits, where a detective "simply solves a problem because it's his job", Reacher has no formal reason to be involved in anything and consequently "seems to always wind up in a situation where something goes wrong and he must make right".^[7] Prominentmystery fiction editorOtto Penzler wrote that Reacher's character reflects the chivalrousknight errant of medieval lore, as opposed to ananti-hero tormented by addiction and haunted by past misbehavior.^[8]

Child views Jack Reacher as a "happy-go-lucky guy. He has quirks and problems, but the thing is, he doesn't know he's got them. Hence, no tedious self-pity. He's smart and strong, anintrovert, but any anguish he suffers is caused by others."^[2] He was asked about the casting ofTom Cruise in the role of Jack Reacher. Cruise's casting as Jack Reacher was met with criticism from fans of the book series, primarily because the disparity in their heights. Reacher is portrayed as 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) tall and weighing 250 pounds in the novels, while Cruise is 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m).^[9][10] Child replied that "Reacher's size in the books is a metaphor for an unstoppable force".^[11] In physique and appearance, Child has compared him torugby playerLawrence Dallaglio.^[12]

Lee Child said that he drew inspiration from his own life as he developed stories for Jack Reacher's accomplices and family.^[13]

Jack Reacher was born on amilitary base in Berlin, on 29 October 1960.^[11] His mother, Josephine Moutier Reacher (née Moutier), wasFrench. Jack speaks someFrench. His maternal grandfather was at theBattle of Verdun in the First World War and in theFrench Resistance in the Second World War.^[14]

Reacher's father was in the military. Reacher himself enrolled in theUnited States Military Academy at West Point. Commissioned as an army officer, he was assigned to the military police and, as amajor, ultimately led a special unit that was tasked with difficult cases.^[15] Reacher won numerous awards during his military service^[16] and his commanding officer, Leon Garber, promoted him twice in 18 months.^[17]

After leaving the army, he became adrifter.^[1] After theSeptember 11 attacks, with restrictions onwire transfers in the light offraud he was obliged to carry anATM card^[6] andphoto ID in the form of a (generally expired) Americanpassport.^[18]

Reacher, who has no background in studying genetics, claims that he is genetically predisposed to a vagrant lifestyle inNever Go Back. He says that some populations have a "natural wanderlust" such as theBritish Empire, theVikings, and thePolynesians. He recognizes theeconomic reasons for their voyages but argues that "some of them could not stop" traveling. He believes whenprehistoric humans lived in small bands ageneevolved to preventinbreeding. As a result "every generation and every small band had at least one person who had to wander" leading to "mixing up ofgene pools" being "healthier all around."

Reacher has a love for music, especiallyblues.^[19] That affinity inspires Reacher to get off the bus at the start ofKilling Floor. He also speaks of it to detectives investigating an early-morning suicide on a near-desertedNew York subway near ablues club onBleecker Street.^[20] He is scathing in his dismissal of traditional religious proselytizing.^[21]

InA Wanted Man Reacher says that he is a bad driver. He doesn't have a driver's license.^[22] InWithout Fail Agent Froelich searches various databases for Reacher, only to discover he is rendered nearly untraceable because, without a driver's license, he has no photograph or address in government records.^[23] Reacher says he participates incasual sex.^[11][24][25]

He is proficient inhand-to-hand combat. Whilenot a master in any discipline, he tends to incorporate moves from various styles. He also has strong deduction skills and is an exceptional investigator. He is a skilledmarksman and the only non-Marine to win the U.S. Marine Corps1000-yard Invitational rifle competition.^[26]

Reacher is described as being 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) tall, weighing 210–250 pounds (95–113 kg) and having a 50-inch (130 cm) chest.^[9][11] InNever Go Back, he is described as having "a six-pack like a cobbled city street, a chest like a suit ofNFL armor, biceps like basketballs, and subcutaneous fat like aKleenex tissue."^[27] In his youth, his physical appearance was likened to that of a "bulked-up greyhound".^[28] He also reveals that his size is purely genetic; he says inPersuader^[29] andNever Go Back that he is not much of an exercise enthusiast.^[27]

He has various scars, including some roughly stitched on his abdomen following a bombing inLebanon.^[30][31]

The 2012action thriller filmJack Reacher was adapted from the ninth novel, 2005'sOne Shot, and starsTom Cruise in the title role.^[32] The film was directed byChristopher McQuarrie.^[33] Cruise reprised the role in the sequel,Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, an adaptation of the 18th Jack Reacher book,Never Go Back, which was directed byEdward Zwick and released 21 October 2016.^[34]

Tom Cruise's casting was met with criticism from fans of the book series, primarily because of the disparity in their heights, with Reacher portrayed as a blond, 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) tall, 250-pound man in the novels, while Cruise is 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) tall and has brown hair.^[9][10] In 2012, Child commented on Cruise's casting, "Reacher's size in the books is a metaphor for an unstoppable force, which Cruise portrays in his own way."^[35]

On 14 November 2018, Child announced a deal withSkydance Television andParamount Television to produce aJack Reacher series based on Child's novels and that there would be no moreReacher films. He also said thatTom Cruise would no longer portray the character and that another actor would be cast in the role, citing the height difference between the fictional character and Cruise remarking that he was going to try and find the perfect guy.^[35]

Amazon was chosen to develop the series forPrime Video withNick Santora as the showrunner.^[36] On 4 September 2020,Alan Ritchson was cast to play Reacher.^[37] The first season of the series,Reacher premiered on 4 February 2022^[38] with all episodes released simultaneously. On 7 November 2023, Amazon Prime Video announced that the first three episodes of Season 2 would be released on 15 December with more to follow in January 2024.^[39] A third season, based on the 2003 novelPersuader, premiered on February 20, 2025 and concluded on March 27, 2025.

• Jack Reacher (book series)
• Jack (hero)
• Military brat

Explanatory notes

Citations

Jack Reacher (book series)

• Child, Lee (1997).Killing Floor. New York: Putnam.ISBN 0515123447.OCLC 38994823.
• Child, Lee (1999).Die Trying. New York: Jove.ISBN 0515125024.
• Child, Lee (2002).Without Fail. New York: Putnam.ISBN 0399148612.
• Child, Lee (2003).Tripwire. New York: Putnam.ISBN 978-0385336666.
• Child, Lee (2003).Persuader. New York: Delacorte Press.ISBN 978-0440245988.
• Child, Lee (2004).The Enemy. New York: Delacorte Press.ISBN 0385336675.
• Child, Lee (2004).One Shot. New York: Delacorte Press.ISBN 978-0385336680.
• Child, Lee (2007).The Hard Way. New York: Delacorte Press.ISBN 978-0385336697.
• Child, Lee (2007).Bad Luck and Trouble. New York: Delacorte Press.ISBN 978-0385340557.
• Child, Lee (2008).Nothing to Lose. New York: Delacorte Press.ISBN 978-0385340564.
• Child, Lee (2009).Gone Tomorrow. New York: Delacorte Press.ISBN 978-0385340571.
• Child, Lee (2010).61 Hours. New York: Delacorte Press.ISBN 978-0385340588.
• Child, Lee (2010).Worth Dying For. New York: Delacorte Press.ISBN 978-0385344319.
• Child, Lee (2011).The Affair. New York: Delacorte Press.ISBN 978-0440339359.
• Child, Lee (2012).A Wanted Man. New York: Delacorte Press.ISBN 978-044033936-6.
• Child, Lee (2013).High Heat. New York: Delacorte Press.ISBN 978-0345546647.
• Child, Lee (2014).Personal. New York: Delacorte Press.ISBN 978-0804178761.
• Child, Lee (2016).Night School. New York: Delacorte Press.ISBN 978-0804178808.
• Child, Lee (2017).The Midnight Line. New York: Delacorte Press.ISBN 978-0399593482.
• Child, Lee (2018).Past Tense. New York: Delacorte Press.ISBN 978-0399593512.
• Child, Lee (2019).Blue Moon. New York: Delacorte Press.ISBN 978-0399593543.
• Child, Lee (2020).The Sentinel. New York: Delacorte Press.ISBN 978-1984818461.
• Child, Lee (2021).Better Off Dead. New York: Delacorte Press.ISBN 978-1984818508.
• Child, Lee (2021).No Plan B. New York: Delacorte Press.ISBN 978-1984818546.

Further reading

• Curtis, Bryan (20 December 2012)."The Curious Case of Lee Child: Before Tom Cruise could become Jack Reacher, Jim Grant had to become Lee Child".Grantland. Retrieved5 September 2015.

• Lee Child's official website

• Jack Reacher
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• Fictional military personnel
• Fictional vigilantes
• Fictional Krav Maga practitioners
• Fictional aikidoka
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• Literary characters introduced in 1997
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