Reacher (TV series)

Last updated

Reacher
Reacher series title card.png
Title card
Genre
Based on Jack Reacher novel series
by Lee Child
Developed by Nick Santora
ShowrunnerNick Santora
Starring
ComposerTony Morales
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes24
Production
Executive producers
Cinematography Bernard Couture
Michael McMurray
Ronald Plante
Camera setup Single-camera
Running time42–56 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network Amazon Prime Video
ReleaseFebruary 4, 2022 (2022-02-04) –
present
Related
Neagley

Reacher is an American action crime television series developed by Nick Santora for Amazon Prime Video. Based on the Jack Reacher book series by Lee Child, it stars Alan Ritchson as the title character, a self-proclaimed hobo and former U.S. Army military police officer with formidable strength, intellect, and abilities. During his travels, Reacher crosses paths with dangerous criminals and battles them.

Contents

The first season of Reacher was based on Killing Floor , Child's 1997 debut novel, and was released on February 4, 2022. The second season, based on Bad Luck and Trouble (2007), began on December 15, 2023, and concluded on January 19, 2024. The third season, based on the 2003 novel Persuader , premiered on February 20, 2025 and concluded on March 27, 2025. In October 2024, before the third season premiere, the series was renewed for a fourth season.

A spin-off series, Neagley , is in production.

Premise

Jack Reacher is a former U.S. Army military police major with extensive AWOL investigative and combat experience who prefers to live as a drifter, travelling from town to town across the United States.

In the first season, while visiting the rural town of Margrave, Georgia, Reacher is arrested for murder. After he is freed he teams up with two honest police officers, Oscar Finlay and Roscoe Conklin, to investigate a local conspiracy involving corrupt lawmen, politicians, and a wealthy business tycoon and his son who are running a dangerous counterfeiting syndicate. He also tries to uncover his brother's murderer.

In the second season Neagley, a former member of his defunct MP Special Investigations unit from New York City, contacts Reacher when one of their own is murdered under mysterious circumstances. He reassembles his old team to find the murderers and avenge their friend's death. The team's investigation leads them to a technology company with a corrupt security division conspiring with a dangerous arms dealer.

In the third season Reacher delves into the dark heart of a rug-importing business which is a front for a vast criminal arms trafficking enterprise when he attempts to rescue a DEA informant. There, he encounters a world of secrets and violence and confronts Xavier Quinn, an enemy from his past.

Cast and characters

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
1 8February 4, 2022 (2022-02-04)
2 8December 15, 2023 (2023-12-15)January 19, 2024 (2024-01-19)
3 8February 20, 2025 (2025-02-20)March 27, 2025 (2025-03-27)

Season 1 (2022)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
11"Welcome to Margrave" Thomas Vincent Nick Santora February 4, 2022 (2022-02-04)
22"First Dance" Sam Hill Scott SullivanFebruary 4, 2022 (2022-02-04)
33"Spoonful" Stephen Surjik Aadrita MukerjiFebruary 4, 2022 (2022-02-04)
44"In a Tree" Christine Moore Cait DuffyFebruary 4, 2022 (2022-02-04)
55"No Apologies" Norberto Barba Scott SullivanFebruary 4, 2022 (2022-02-04)
66"Papier" Omar Madha Aadrita MukerjiFebruary 4, 2022 (2022-02-04)
77"Reacher Said Nothing" Lin Oeding Scott SullivanFebruary 4, 2022 (2022-02-04)
88"Pie" MJ Bassett Nick SantoraFebruary 4, 2022 (2022-02-04)

Season 2 (2023–24)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
91"ATM" Sam Hill Nick Santora December 15, 2023 (2023-12-15)
102"What Happens in Atlantic City"Sam HillScott SullivanDecember 15, 2023 (2023-12-15)
113"Picture Says a Thousand Words" Omar Madha Penny CoxDecember 15, 2023 (2023-12-15)
124"A Night at the Symphony"Omar MadhaCait DuffyDecember 22, 2023 (2023-12-22)
135"Burial"Carol BankerScott SullivanDecember 29, 2023 (2023-12-29)
146"New York's Finest"Carol BankerCait Duffy & Michael J. GutierrezJanuary 5, 2024 (2024-01-05)
157"The Man Goes Through"Julian HolmesPenny Cox & Lillian WangJanuary 12, 2024 (2024-01-12)
168"Fly Boy"Julian HolmesScott SullivanJanuary 19, 2024 (2024-01-19)

Season 3 (2025)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date  [1]
171"Persuader" Sam Hill Scott SullivanFebruary 20, 2025 (2025-02-20)
182"Truckin'"Sam HillPenny CoxFebruary 20, 2025 (2025-02-20)
193"Number 2 with a Bullet"Gary FlederCait DuffyFebruary 20, 2025 (2025-02-20)
204"Dominique"Sam HillLillian WangFebruary 27, 2025 (2025-02-27)
215"Smackdown"Sam HillMichael J. GutierrezMarch 6, 2025 (2025-03-06)
226"Smoke on the Water"Sam HillScott SullivanMarch 13, 2025 (2025-03-13)
237"L.A. Story"Sam HillPenny Cox & Cait DuffyMarch 20, 2025 (2025-03-20)
248"Unfinished Business"Sam HillScott SullivanMarch 27, 2025 (2025-03-27)

Production

Development

On July 15, 2019, a TV series adaptation of Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels was announced by Amazon. Nick Santora, who created Scorpion , was set to write, showrun, and produce the series through Paramount Television and Skydance Media. [2] On January 14, 2020, the TV series was greenlit, with Don Granger, Scott Sullivan, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Marcy Ross, and Christopher McQuarrie as executive producers with Child. The first season was announced as an adaptation of Child's novel Killing Floor . [3] In July 2021, it was announced M. J. Bassett had joined the series as a director. [4] On February 7, 2022, Amazon Prime Video renewed the series for a second season. [5] To adapt the books to screen the writers decided they would need to make Reacher verbalize his thoughts more often, but that they would keep his dialogue short and direct and have him only speak longer to people he respects. They also decided to introduce Neagley to the series earlier than in the books. [6] On December 2, 2023, ahead of the second-season premiere, it was revealed that filming of a third season had begun. [7] On October 9, 2024, ahead of the third season premiere, Amazon renewed the series for a fourth season. [8]

Casting

On September 4, 2020, Alan Ritchson was cast in the title role. [9] On March 22, 2021, Malcolm Goodwin, Willa Fitzgerald, and Chris Webster were cast as series regulars. [10] On May 19, 2021, Bruce McGill, Maria Sten, and Hugh Thompson joined the main cast. [11] On June 11, 2021, Kristin Kreuk, Marc Bendavid, Willie C. Carpenter, Currie Graham, Harvey Guillén, and Maxwell Jenkins were announced to have joined the cast in undisclosed capacities. [12]

On September 14, 2022, Shaun Sipos joined as a series regular for the second season. [13] On September 21, 2022, Serinda Swan, Ferdinand Kingsley, and Rory Cochrane joined the main cast while Domenick Lombardozzi, Luke Bilyk, Dean McKenzie, Edsson Morales, Andres Collantes, Shannon Kook, Ty Olsson, Josh Blacker, and Al Sapienza were cast in guest roles for the second season. [14] Goodwin, Swan and Lombardozzi already starred in Santora's Breakout Kings in 2011. On May 5, 2023, Robert Patrick was cast to replace Cochrane who left due to a scheduling conflict with the second season. [15]

On February 8, 2024, Anthony Michael Hall and Sonya Cassidy were cast as series regulars for the third season. [16] On March 6, 2024, Brian Tee, Johnny Berchtold and Roberto Montesinos were cast as regulars of the third season, while Daniel David Stewart in a recurring role. [17] In May 2024, bodybuilder Olivier Richters, also known as "the Dutch Giant", was cast as Persuader's secondary antagonist Paulie. [18]

Filming

A temporary townscape was built in North Pickering, Ontario to support filming of the first season. The entire fictional city of Margrave was built from the ground up in a leased farm field in Ontario. Other areas of filming include Toronto, Port Perry and Pickering. [19] Principal photography of the first season took place between April 15 and July 30, 2021, in Toronto. [20] During filming, Ritchson broke a bone in his shoulder, which required surgery. He also tore an abdominal muscle during a fight scene. [21]

Filming for the second season took place between September 2022 and March 2023. [22] The season was filmed in various locations in Ontario, Canada, including Toronto, Brampton and Hamilton. [23]

Filming for the third season took place in between July and September 2023. [24] Different parts of Canada served as backdrops, including Millbrook, Brantford and Downtown St. John's. [25]

Filming for the fourth season is scheduled to begin in summer 2025. [26]

Release

The first season's episodes were released on February 4, 2022. [27] For the second season, the first three episodes were released on December 15, 2023, with an additional episode released each week through January 19, 2024. [28] For the third season, the first three episodes were released on February 20, 2025, with an additional episode released each week through March 27, 2025. [29]

Reception

Audience

Reacher was the most streamed television series for the week of February 7–13, 2022, according to the Nielsen streaming rankings, the first Amazon production to achieve the feat. [30]

Critical response

For the first season, the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 92% approval rating with an average rating of 7.3/10, based on 75 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Reacher captures the trademark bulk of its titular hero while trading away some of his definition, but fans of the novels will find plenty to love about this faithful adaptation." [31] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 68 out of 100 based on 18 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [32]

Lucy Mangan of The Guardian said, "This rollicking adaptation of Lee Child's man-mountain ex-military sleuth is hugely fun, packed with punchups and far better than Cruise's movie efforts." [33] Michael Hogan of The Telegraph wrote, "Reacher is huge, pulpy fun and far classier than you might expect." [34] Joshua Alston of Variety praised the casting of Ritchson but said the character was unsuitable to carry this kind of show: "the longer it runs, the more obvious its protagonist-shaped void becomes". [35] Dan Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter called it "frustratingly over-faithful to the source material", saying, "I wouldn't mind another season, but I'd probably still rather read another book." [36]

The second season has a 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 43 critic reviews, with an average rating of 7.8/10. The website's critics consensus states, "Brawny as Alan Ritchson's biceps, Reacher swaggers confidently into its sophomore season as rock 'em sock 'em pulp with a sly wink." [37] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 79 out of 100 based on 14 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [38] Conversely, Forbes panned the second season as "one of the worst shows on TV", adding that "there’s just not enough going on to make him (Reacher) a particularly compelling protagonist". [39]

The third season has a 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 42 critic reviews, with an average rating of 8.1/10. The website's critics consensus states, "Jack Reacher finally picks a fight with someone his own size in this crunchy third season, reliably doling out justice to foes and satisfaction to viewers." [40] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 76 out of 100 based on 11 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [41] The latest season was complimented by Forbes for having improved after certain disappointments from the previous season. [42]

Spin-off

On September 4, 2024, it was announced that a spin-off series focusing on the Reacher series regular Frances Neagley was in development at Amazon Prime Video with Maria Sten set to reprise her role. [43] On October 1, 2024, it was announced that Prime Video had greenlit the series with Santora and Nicholas Wootton serving as showrunners for the series. [44] Filming on Neagley commenced in Toronto in February 2025. [45] [46]

References

  1. ↑ Also credited as Amazon Studios (seasons 1–2).
  1. ↑ "Shows A-Z – Reacher on Amazon". The Futon Critic . Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  2. ↑ Thorne, Will (July 15, 2019). "Amazon to Develop 'Jack Reacher' Series". Variety . Archived from the original on March 7, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  3. ↑ Otterson, Joe (January 14, 2020). "'Jack Reacher' Series Gets Greenlight at Amazon". Variety. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  4. ↑ Marc, Christopher (July 14, 2021). "EXCLUSIVE: 'Rogue' Director M.J. Bassett Joins Amazon's 'Jack Reacher' Series Reboot". The Ronin. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  5. ↑ White, Peter (February 7, 2022). "'Reacher' Renewed For Season 2 At Amazon". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 9, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  6. ↑ Mitovich, Matt Webb (February 12, 2022). "Reacher EP Says 'Wildfire' Response Fueled Quick Renewal, Shares Secrets to Prime Video Hit's Success". TVLine. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  7. ↑ Otterson, Joe (December 2, 2023). "'Reacher' Renewed for Season 3 at Amazon Ahead of Season 2 Premiere". Variety. Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  8. ↑ Campione, Katie (October 9, 2024). "'Reacher' Gets Early Season 4 Renewal At Prime Video". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 9, 2024. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  9. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (September 4, 2020). "'Jack Reacher': Alan Ritchson Cast As Title Character In Amazon TV Series". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on September 4, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  10. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (March 22, 2021). "'Jack Reacher': Malcolm Goodwin, Willa Fitzgerald & Chris Webster Join Alan Ritchson In Amazon Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 23, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  11. ↑ Petski, Denise (May 19, 2021). "'Reacher': Bruce McGill, Maria Sten, Hugh Thompson Join Alan Ritchson In Amazon Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 15, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  12. ↑ Petski, Denise (June 11, 2021). "'Reacher': Kristin Kreuk, Marc Bendavid, Willie C. Carpenter Among 6 Cast In Amazon Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  13. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (September 14, 2022). "'Reacher': Shaun Sipos To Star In Season 2 Of Prime Video Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  14. ↑ Petski, Denise (September 21, 2022). "'Reacher' Rounds Out Season 2 Cast With Serinda Swan, Ferdinand Kingsley, Rory Cochrane, More". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  15. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (May 5, 2023). "'Reacher' Recasting: Robert Patrick Replaces Rory Cochrane In Season 2 Of Prime Video Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  16. ↑ Petski, Denise (February 8, 2024). "'Reacher' Adds Anthony Michael Hall & Sonya Cassidy To Season 3 Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 9, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  17. ↑ Cordero, Rosy (March 6, 2024). "'Expats' Star Brian Tee Among Four Joining Prime Video's 'Reacher' For Season 3". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  18. ↑ Lammers, Tim (May 26, 2024). "'Reacher' Season 3 Set Photo Shows Alan Ritchson's Hulking New Nemesis". Forbes . Archived from the original on February 22, 2025. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  19. ↑ Calis, Kristen (May 10, 2021). "What's Going On Here: More filming of 'Jack Reacher' planned for north Pickering". Pickering News Advertiser. DurhamRegion.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  20. ↑ Miller, Mira. "This is what's filming in Toronto this winter". blogto.com. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  21. ↑ Grantham-Philips, Wyatte (February 3, 2022). "'Reacher' Star Alan Ritchson Says He Needed Surgery After On-Set Injury". Variety . Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Reacher (Season 2) (Series)". Film and Television Industry Alliance. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  23. ↑ Miller, Leon. "Where is Reacher Season 2 filmed? All filming locations". Dexerto. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Reacher (Season 3) (Series)". Film & Television Industry Alliance. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  25. ↑ Johnson, Nathan (February 21, 2025). "Where Is Reacher Season 3 Filmed? Stunning Locations Revealed". The Direct. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  26. ↑ McPherson, Chris (March 4, 2025). "'Reacher' Season 4 Is Set to Begin Shooting Much Sooner Than You Think". Collider . Archived from the original on March 15, 2025. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  27. ↑ Lawrence, Derek (December 2, 2021). "Alan Ritchson sizes up Jack Reacher in first look at Amazon series". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on February 4, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  28. ↑ Petski, Denise (November 7, 2023). "'Reacher' Season 2 Trailer: Jack Reacher Is Out To Catch A Killer; Premiere Date Set". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  29. ↑ "'Reacher' Season 3 Premiered Today. Here's How You and Your Dad Can Watch". CNET. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  30. ↑ Maas, Jennifer (March 11, 2022). "Reacher Becomes First Amazon TV Series to Top Nielsen SVOD Rankings". Variety . Archived from the original on March 11, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  31. ↑ "Reacher: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Reacher: Season 1". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  33. ↑ "Reacher review – the house-sized action hero Tom Cruise will never be". The Guardian . February 4, 2022. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  34. ↑ Hogan, Michael (February 4, 2022). "Reacher, review: Lee Child fans can rejoice – Alan Ritchson rights the wrongs of Tom Cruise". The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  35. ↑ Alston, Joshua (February 3, 2022). "'Reacher' Is a Brutal Thriller With a Void at its Center: TV Review". Variety . Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  36. ↑ Fienberg, Daniel (February 1, 2022). "Amazon's 'Reacher': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  37. ↑ "Reacher: Season 2". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  38. ↑ "Reacher: Season 2". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  39. ↑ Kain, Erik. "Reacher' Season 2 Is Now Officially One Of The Worst Shows On TV". Forbes . Archived from the original on January 20, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  40. ↑ "Reacher: Season 3". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  41. ↑ "Reacher: Season 3". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  42. ↑ Kain, Erik. "'Reacher' Season 3 Review: A Major Improvement Over Season 2, But Still Missing Season 1's Magic". Forbes . Retrieved March 28, 2025.{{cite web}}: Check |archive-url= value (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  43. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (September 4, 2024). "'Reacher' Spinoff 'Neagley' Starring Maria Sten Nears Amazon Greenlight". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  44. ↑ Shafer, Ellise; Yossman, K.J. (October 1, 2024). "'Reacher' Spinoff Starring Maria Sten Gets Series Order at Prime Video". Variety . Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  45. ↑ "Maria Sten's 'Reacher' spinoff is filming". National Post. February 20, 2025. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  46. ↑ "NEAGLEY Season One Starts Filming in Toronto". Hollywood North Buzz. February 18, 2025. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
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