Author Lee Child, creator of the Jack Reacher character, breaks down why he doesn’t give Alan Ritchson any advice when it comes to Reacher
. Premiering in 2022, the Prime Video series adapting Child’s beloved novel series became a major hit for the streamer, with Ritchson’s lead performance singled out as a particular highlight. Reacher season 3 is now in the midst of releasing on Prime Video, adapting the events of Child’s Persuader novel, and it has again been met with a positive reception.
In a recent interview with Screen Time, Child explains his working relationship to Ritchson, revealing that, while the pair are friends, the author isn’t giving the actor any pointers on how to play the character on Reacher. According to Child, it’s clear that Ritchson gets what he needs from the books, and the author believes any advice from him could affect the actor’s confidence, thus hurting the performance. Check out Child’s explanation below:
“I feel like I don’t want to give him advice and I don’t want him to ask for advice. What I’m hoping is that we cast him correctly and then it is up to him. It gives him, to be unquestioned, it gives him confidence to go ahead and give the right result. I think that if I was nagging at him all the time, ‘Do this, do that,’ I think it would destroy his confidence and make him a little nervous. So, my best role is to stay out of that.
“We kid around, we’re good friends, we have fun. We were just in Brazil doing a thing. We get on really well. But as a sort of friend thing. There’s no way that I’m directing him or anything like that. He’s a smart guy, he reads the books over and over again very closely and mines them for the emotional cues and so on. And I think he does that really well.
“If somebody asked me, ‘What am I happiest about?’ it is that casting decision. We knew it was critical, obviously. The title of the show is Reacher. It’s all about him, he carries it. He carries it on the screen but he also carries it off the screen because what people don’t see is that the lead actor sets the tone, he sets the bar for the rest of the cast and crew.”
The Prime Video Show Has Been A Big Hit
One of the most important aspects of any film or TV production is hiring people that can be trusted to do their jobs effectively as part of a team. That isn’t to say there isn’t feedback and conversation along the way, with the director playing a crucial role in shaping the creative direction, but hiring an actor means hiring them for their unique sensibilities and their take on a character. When Ritchson was cast in the lead, the show was embracing what he brought to the table as an actor instead of casting him and then attempting to shape him into something else.
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So far, the choice to cast Ritchson has been paying off. Reacher remains one of Prime Video’s most viewed shows of all time, and season 3 currently has a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. In his review for ScreenRant, Greg MacArthur praises the show’s action, storytelling, and the Reacher cast, and he singles Ritchson out as the key ingredient to the entire series.
Ritchson once again proves that he was born to play Reacher, a role he nearly lost but fought his way back to landing.
Ritchson Is Crucial To The Show’s Success
Even though all episodes of season 3 haven’t even been released yet, Reacher season 4 is already confirmed to be on the way. Child clearly has a positive working relationship with the creative team behind the show, and this bodes well for its future. It’s unclear what book season 4 will adapt, but it very likely won’t be the show’s last.
Even though a notable portion of the people who watch Reacher probably haven’t read Child’s book series, the books do have a large following. Child’s support of the show and the show’s adherence to his vision certainly looks to be pleasing to those who read his work, which is an important part of any adaptation. Ritchson, it’s clear, has been key to these stories making the jump from page to screen so seamlessly.
New episodes of Reacher season 3 release every Thursday on Prime Video.
Source: Screen Time
Reacher
8/10
- Release Date
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February 3, 2022
- Network
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Prime Video
- Showrunner
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Nick Santora
- Directors
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Omar Madha, Carol Banker, Julian Holmes, Lin Oeding, M.J. Bassett, Norberto Barba, Stephen Surjik, Thomas Vincent
- Writers
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Cait Duffy