In news that is likely to make the most devout of Lee Child readers (“Reacher Creatures” as they are called) get in a tizzy, comes word that Paramount Pictures and Skydance Productions are negotiating with Tom Cruise to star in One Shot, the ninth entry in the Jack Reacher book series. The novels (fifteen so far) are about a former military policeman-turned-drifter who keeps few possessions as he wanders the United States. He also seems to get mixed into one bad situation after another.
The reason why fans of the series will be upset is because of how Jack Reacher is described. In the books, Reacher is 6’5″, about 250 pounds. Cruise is about 5’7″. Though, considering that Cruise has been interested in the series for a number of years now, you know that he will be committed to the role.
While actors like Hugh Jackman and Liev Schrieber definitely have the height, clocking in at around 6’2″ and 6’3″ respectfully, the thought of Cruise as Reacher interests me for some reason. All you have to do is look at his performance in Michael Mann’s Collateral. Total focus. Total control.
When Child received word of Cruise’s interest in the role of Jack Reacher he threw his support acknowledging, “Reacher’s size in the books is a metaphor for an unstoppable force, which Cruise portrays in his own way.”
If Cruise can bring that same focus like he did with Collateral, Jack Reacher may be one the actor’s best characters.
Christopher McQuarrie, who previously worked with Cruise on Valkyrie (writing the script for director-friend Bryan Singer), will direct his script of the adaptation. This is only the second time that McQuarrie will sit in the director’s chair. His previous effort was the 2000 release The Way of the Gun starring Benicio Del Toro, Ryan Ryan Phillippe, and James Cann.
The premise of One Shot has Reacher investigating a case in which a lone sniper murders five victims before being captured. Then Reacher discovers it’s more than a simple open-and-shut case.
Paramount and McQuarrie hope to get the film lensed before Cruise starts the Joseph Kosinski-directed Oblivion at Universal in January.
