Amazon has found its Jack Reacher.
Titans actor Alan Ritchson has landed the lead role in a series based on Lee Child’s best-selling series of novels. The show is produced by Amazon Studios, Skydance Television and Paramount Television Studios.
Ritchson steps into a role previously played by Tom Cruise in two movies based on the character. At 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds (according to Amazon), Ritchson is closer to Child’s description of the physically imposing character (who’s described as standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 250 pounds). Reacher is a military veteran who lives a nomadic life as a freelance investigator and problem solver.
Nick Santora (Scorpion, Quibi’s Most Dangerous Game) will write and serve as showrunner on the series, whose first season will be based on Child’s novel Killing Floor. Santora, who has an overall deal at Skydance TV, is also developing a father-daughter spy series for the studio, with Arnold Schwarzenegger attached to star.
Ritchson is a regular on DC Universe/HBO Max’s Titans, where he plays Hank Hall/Hawk. His credits also include Spike’s Blue Mountain State, Syfy’s Blood Drive, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Smallville. He is repped by Dan Spilo of Industry Entertainment and Attorney Dan Fox of Hansen Jacobson.
Jack Reacher is one of a number of Amazon series based on high-profile book titles, including Jack Ryan (also from Skydance and Paramount TV Studios), Bosch and the upcoming Lord of the Rings and Wheel of Time. Child’s Reacher novels have sold more than 100 million copies and been translated into 49 languages.
Santora executive produces with Child, Don Granger, Christopher McQuarrie and Scott Sullivan, with David Ellison and Dana Goldberg for Skydance. Marcy Ross also serves as an executive producer. Carolyn Harris oversees the series for the studio.
