Alan Ritchson's Favorite Reacher Book Was The Better Choice For Season 5

Published Sep 22, 2026, 12:30 PM EDT

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2026 has been a big year for Prime Video's Reacher, as alongside a successful fourth season, the franchise also dropped its first spinoff, which looks set to play a major role in its future. With no signs that the action series will slow down after Reacher season 4's ending, all eyes are already on what's next.

Fortunately, we already know that season 5 will adapt Lee Child's novel, Make Me, and while there is no official release date or public production schedule yet, Reacher's track record indicates we won't wait too long for the next installment.

Even if there is a longer wait than usual, the fact that Neagley's spinoff proved critics wrong suggests we could see more from the franchise than ever before. However, despite this being great news for Prime Video and its hit IP, questions remain over whether Make Me is the right choice for Reacher's next storyline.

So far, there hasn't been a single bad season, meaning regardless of the plot, Alan Ritchson remains compelling enough as the action hero to keep fans invested. That said, he obviously has his own ideas for the show going forward, and the lead star confirmed his desire to adapt Die Trying — his favorite Jack Reacher novel.

On Threads, Ritchson described it as, "My favorite book. Fun fact: I had it approved until someone got re-elected." Seeing Reacher on the run in season 4 was entertaining, but the character is at his best when taking down detestable foes in the most brutal way possible, hence why Die Trying would've been the perfect choice for the upcoming installment.

Make Me Is An Unusual Pick For Reacher Season 5

Knowing Reacher has knocked all its previous seasons out of the park, it's difficult to imagine season 5 falling way short, but Make Me is still a slightly odd choice for the next outing. On paper, the story is just as gripping as any, with Make Me centering around the protagonist stopping in a rural town, where he stumbles upon yet another conspiracy.

With the entire community seemingly hiding a major secret, there is enough individuality about this plot to stand out, yet at its core, the story does feel like it'll have many similarities to season 4's Gone Tomorrow adaptation. In contrast, all the previous iterations have had something that makes them feel more unique.

Season 1 was more of a mystery thriller, with Reacher actively investigating a personal case. Season 2 saw him and his old unit being hunted down, forcing him into action. Seasons 3 and 4 were both cases of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, yet the actual tone differed greatly.

Whereas season 4 was all-out action with Reacher and his crew constantly on the run while trying to topple some dangerous foes, season 3 saw him go undercover, making it more of a slow-burner despite having plenty of action sequences. Sadly, Make Me will be tonally identical to Gone Tomorrow.

Both focus on the victim being close to Reacher's new ally, giving him an extra sense of responsibility to uncover the truth about what is going on. Likewise, Plum's involvement in season 4 as a journalist curious about the CIA's undercover activities is very similar to Make Me's Ashley Westwood, who is obsessed with conspiracy theories.

To top it all off, these two books keep their cards close to their chests, with the reveals coming late on, suggesting the next entry may provide a sense of déjà vu. While Prime Video's take on Make Me will almost certainly still be entertaining, it's hard to picture it ranking among Reacher's best seasons, purely because of what it's following up.

Die Trying Would Probably Be Reacher's Best Season Yet

With each season or Reacher bringing something different to the table, there isn't a unanimous fan favorite, but a Die Trying adaptation would probably earn this title. The novel wastes little time getting into the action, as, alongside a woman named Holly Johnson who he is trying to help, Reacher is abducted without having any idea why.

Not only is she an FBI agent, but Holly also has very powerful connections, making her abduction a big deal. From here, the book only gets more compelling and features everything Reacher fans could possibly hope for. There are violent, gritty action sequences, which include the hero taking down a group of white supremacists.

In addition, there are some deep political aspects, with Reacher even being put on trial where his proposed punishment is execution. As if all this wasn't exciting enough, the twists and characters help create an exceptional narrative, making it no surprise it is Alan Ritchson's favorite, and one he's desperate to adapt.

All four seasons of Reacher and season 1 of Neagley are available to watch now on Prime Video.

It would inevitably transition well into a televised format, and with Ritchson pushing for it, Reacher is destined to make a season based on Die Trying at some point. Given that it also features all the aspects most fans love, there is no doubt it has all the potential to be the show's best season by quite some distance.

With Reacher's inventive kills continuing throughout season 4's finale, there is all the more reason to be confident Prime Video will get Die Trying right. Therefore, the series shouldn't wait too much longer to go ahead with this excellent storyline, as Reacher may need something bold and different after season 5.