While Tom Cruise is always a lasting trend, these past weeks have seen him particularly in the spotlight—not for his daring Olympic stunt or rumored new girlfriend, but because the “Jack Reacher” films have landed on Netflix and soared to the top of the U.S. charts, despite being released over a decade ago.
Both installments made a significant impact at a time when the action genre was trembling, plagued by low-quality productions and repetitive storylines. With its clever plot, strong performances, and nail-biting suspense, the first movie captivated audiences worldwide.
As fans may know, these films are based on Lee Child‘s “Jack Reacher” series, which now includes twenty-eight books. With so much material left to explore, many are wondering why there were no further movies after “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back” in 2016. So, will we ever see another installment?
Will Tom Cruise lead more ‘Jack Reacher’ films?
While Netflix users in the United States have been enjoying the two “Jack Reacher” movies, it’s worth noting that while they were box office hits upon release, they weren’t universally embraced by fans of the books that inspired them.
Critics among the fanbase acknowledged Tom Cruise’s acting skills but felt that his physical appearance didn’t align with the character’s description in the novels, where Reacher’s imposing stature is a key aspect. This disconnect led to the character’s adaptation in a Prime Video series, “Reacher,” which was much more warmly received.
Although it seemed that Reacher’s story had found its conclusion with the series, Tom Cruise and his longtime collaborator, Christopher McQuarrie—who directed the first movie—never fully moved on from the project. In a 2019 interview with Empire, McQuarrie revealed:
“Tom and I were talking about, had the series continued, to take Reacher to a place where, in the post-Deadpool, post-Joker world, Reacher could have been an R-rated movie and an R-rated franchise and really fed into the brutality of those books. We were fully ready to lean into that,”
While it’s clear that Tom Cruise has a desire to continue the “Jack Reacher” franchise, it seems unlikely in the near future. The actor is deeply focused on the next steps of his most beloved film series, “Mission: Impossible” and “Top Gun”. Additionally, rumors suggest he’s eager to take on more dramatic roles, as evidenced by his confirmed involvement in Iñárritu’s upcoming project.
