Reacher author Lee Child reveals why he rejected a third Tom Cruise film before TV series

Lee Child has revealed why he vetoed a third Reacher movie starring Tom Cruise and opted instead for the "fabulous luxury" of a streaming series.

Before Amazon’s hit Prime Video series Reacher, which stars Alan Ritchson, began airing, Cruise played the role of the former army police officer in two films: Jack Reacher in 2012 and Jack Reacher: Never Go Back in 2016.

Talking recently to Collider, Child revealed that his original film deal included a veto he could trigger after two films.

"I had a clause in that movie contract that after two movies I had a veto whether we would do any more. I exercised that veto," he explained.

Following Cruise’s casting in the role of Reacher, who in the books stands at 6ft 5 inches tall and weighs roughly 250 lb - in comparison to Cruise who stands at 5ft 7 inches - the actor drew much criticism from fans.

But it wasn't the casting that caused Child to veto a third Reacher movie starring Cruise, but rather the opportunity to tell the story in a series format.

Child explained: "By 2017, of course, there was a whole new landscape. Binging television had been invented. Broadband was much more widespread. It was a thing now. It was not a thing in 2005. It hadn’t been invented, and nobody, I think, now would ever go for a feature film over streaming television for two reasons."

He continued: "First of all, the running time — it’s fabulous luxury. It really is. Eight hours, 10 hours, 12 hours, whatever you want. You can tell the whole story, all the light and shade, all the quiet parts, all the fun parts. It doesn’t have to be rammed together for 90 minutes of content."

Speaking recently about Cruises’s casting, Child admitted that the actor wasn’t right for the role.

"Obviously, he was completely and utterly wrong for the character."

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He went on: "There’s a line in that first movie where the cop goes to the motel desk and basically says, ‘I’m looking for a guy who could kill somebody with one blow,’ and the clerk says, ‘Oh, room 12,’ and Tom Cruise comes out. You know, not really."

Reacher’s fourth season concluded last month on Prime Video.

The show has been renewed for season 5 and 6, with filming already underway on the former.

Meanwhile, Neagley, the first spin-off from Prime Video's hit action series, has also been released in its entirety since the end of Reacher season 4, with the Maria Sten-led series receiving largely positive reviews.

Reacher and spin-off Neagley are available to watch on Amazon Prime Video. You can sign up to Amazon Prime Video for a 30-day free trial.

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