Tom Cruise starred in numerous blockbuster films throughout his career. While he has delivered exceptional performances, the action star has notably done only two sequels outside of the Mission: Impossible franchise, Top Gun: Maverick and Jack Reacher: Never Go Back.
While Maverick turned out to be a massive hit, renewing the action film series with the 2022 sequel, the same could not be said about the latter. After Christopher McQuarrie’s 2012 film, Edward Zwick took over the sequel, which ultimately fell short of expectations.
The filmmaker later reflected on the movie’s failure in his book, admitting that his attempt to put a personal spin on the story ultimately led to the downfall of the franchise.
Edward Zwick Reflected on the Failure of Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
Based on Lee Child’s bestselling novels, Jack Reacher follows Tom Cruise as the titular hero, a former military police officer turned drifter who uses his combat skills and sharp intellect to take down criminals and seek justice.
After debuting in the role in Christopher McQuarrie’s 2012 film, which performed well at the box office, Cruise reprised the character in the 2016 sequel, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, under the direction of Edward Zwick.
The film, however, underperformed, eventually bringing an end to the protagonist’s journey on the silver screen. In his book, Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions: My Fortysomething Years in Hollywood, Zwick took responsibility for the film’s failure. He said, as per Variety,
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back,’ which Tom Cruise and I made in 2016, fizzled at the box office. I blame myself (and my willing accomplice, Don Granger) for thinking the audience might enjoy a mash-up of ‘Jack Reacher’ and ‘Paper Moon,’ when in fact they just wanted more red meat.
He further stated, “I certainly don’t blame Tom for not being six-two,” quipping at the criticism surrounding Cruise’s casting in the film due to its discrepancies with the character’s description in the book series.
However, despite the sequel’s underperformance, Zwick expressed openness to working on a third installment. He said, “Should Tom happen to call about making a third movie together, I’ll definitely pick up.”
Although the lackluster box office returns ended the film franchise, Jack Reacher found new life as a TV series on Prime Video, with Alan Ritchson stepping into the lead role.
Alan Ritchson to Reprise His Iconic Role in Season 3 of Reacher
After the lukewarm reception of Tom Cruise’s Jack Reacher film series, the franchise found new life with a TV adaptation, starring Alan Ritchson as the titular hero.
The series has been a major success, with Ritchson reprising his role in a second season and set to return as the former US Army Major in the upcoming Season 3, which will be based on the 7th book in the series, Persuader.
The show has consistently ranked among the most popular on the streaming platform. While no official release date has been confirmed, Reachor Season 3 is expected to premiere in late 2024 or early 2025.
Additionally, Amazon is also planning to further expand the crime TV show with a spinoff series featuring Maria Sten as fan-favorite character Frances Neagley.
The show will follow Neagley, who works as a private investigator, seeking justice for “a beloved friend from her past, [who] has been killed in a suspicious accident.”
The series is said to follow her “using everything she’s learned from Jack Reacher and her time as a member of the 110 Special Investigators,” to uncover a menacing evil. No release date has been announced for the spinoff yet.
Tom Cruise’s Jack Reacher film series is available to watch on Paramount+.
Alan Ritchson’s Reacher is available to watch on Prime Video.
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