Playing Jack Reacher isn’t just about looking like a tank — you’ve gotta move like one too. And Alan Ritchson? The dude went all in. Showrunner Nick Santora swears Ritchson put in crazy-long hours, not just memorizing every single line but nailing every fight sequence like his life depended on it. No faking, no cutting corners — just straight-up Reacher energy, 24/7.
And let’s be real, it paid off. Whether he’s breaking bones or throwing out one-liners like a savage, Ritchson owns the role. If there was ever a guy built to make Reacher look this good, it’s him.
Alan Ritchson’s unstoppable grind: Reacher showrunner praises his dedication
Alan Ritchson isn’t just playing Reacher — he’s living it. Showrunner Nick Santora summed it up best (via GQ):
He will put in the long hours to learn every single line, to work on fight sequences, and so on…You don’t know an actor’s work ethic until you are in the soup with them and, fortunately, we all get to work with someone who likes to work really hard too.
That dedication helped turn Reacher into a massive juggernaut, making Ritchson the face of the character in a way few actors achieve. But his road to action stardom wasn’t always this clear. Before breaking bones on Prime Video, Ritchson was best known as Thad Castle, the outrageous linebacker in Blue Mountain State.
He once dreamed of being a top comedy star, even getting compared to Ryan Reynolds early on. Instead, he took a different path — one that led him to go toe-to-toe with Arnold Schwarzenegger in an upcoming Christmas action film.
Lee Child, the man behind Reacher, was sold on Ritchson’s talent from the start. Child said,
The title character in a big show like this is effectively the on-field captain. He sets the standard.
He also recalled their first meeting, where Ritchson’s sharp wit won him over. He added,
His first question was, ‘So, Lee. Tell me how thrilled you were when you heard I’d agreed to play Reacher?…That is dead on my own sardonic sense of humor. I came right back and said I was thrilled—especially when our first choice turned us down, and our second, and our third.
And while Ritchson is all in on the action genre, does he fear being typecast? “Absolutely not,” he said without hesitation. With Reacher already renewed for a fourth season, it’s clear he’s just getting started.
Why Lee Child chose Alan Ritchson over Tom Cruise for Reacher
Lee Child made it clear: Alan Ritchson was always the better fit for Reacher. While Tom Cruise nailed the intensity in Jack Reacher (2012), Child believed something was missing. The author told The Independent (Reported by TheNews),
I thought the first movie in particular was excellent. It was a really crisp, hard-edged thriller…Working with Tom was a pleasure and a privilege – he’s a really smart guy, he’s a smart filmmaker, he’s real fun. But you cannot escape the fact that Reacher is a huge guy…
That is a component in his entire approach to the world and the world’s approach to him…He’s huge, he’s implacable, he’s scary. And for all Tom’s ability in getting the internals of Reacher out, he is not huge and he’s not scary.
Cruise? Not so much. Despite his smart, fun approach, the Top Gun: Maverick star lacked the sheer size and intimidation factor crucial to the role.
Child enjoyed working with Cruise, calling Jack Reacher a really crisp, hard-edged thriller. But when it came to the Prime Video series, he wanted a lead who embodied Reacher’s physical presence. Enter Ritchson — the Fast X actor had the stature, the grit, and the raw presence the character demanded.
With Reacher thriving, it’s safe to say Child made the right call.
Watch Reacher on Prime Video & Apple TV.
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