After reports of involvement broke last month, Tom Cruise has now signed on to what could potentially be a tentpole series at Paramount and Skydance Productions, striking a deal to play the former military policemen now wandering loner, Jack Reacher, in the first film adaptation of the highly acclaimed fifteen book series by Lee Child.
Cruise’s new favourite screenwriter Chris McQuarrie who wrote his vehicles Valkyrie, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol (financed by Paramount and Skydance) and the in-development Top Gun sequel, has adapted One Shot, the ninth book in Child’s best-selling 15 novel series. McQuarrie will also direct with shooting to begin in the fall and if you are doubting his directorial talents, seek out The Way of the Gun.
If the story is stays true to the books, the film is set to place Reacher in the middle of a case about a military sniper who is believed to have murdered 5. The further Reacher digs into the investigation he finds corruption, cover-ups, and conspiracies piled one on top of another.
When the rumors swirled recently of Cruise’s potential attachment to the role of Jack Reacher, some considerable uproar was voiced by loyal followers of the series. Reacher is described as an imposing 6’5” tall mammoth of a man with blonde locks and weighing in near 250 pounds and Cruise on a good day stands at a very complimentary 5’7” of slim muscular build, and with signature dark hair.
If anyone has truly followed Cruise’s career they will know he need not be a large imposing figure, instead carrying himself in such a fashion that is almost more imposing in itself. His turns as the precise hit-man for hire Vincent in Collateral, or the ever intimidating Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible series, and even the more light hearted take in the action romance Knight and Day, have easily shown Cruise is capable of kicking you-know-what and taking names in whatever fashion necessary. He is believable in these roles.
A vote of confidence from the writer of the series seems to give solid hope with Childs remarking at the casting; The film is set to be produced by Don Granger and Cruise, through Mutual Film Company and C/W Productions. Joining production are Skydance’s David Ellison and Dana Goldberg along with Gary Levinsohn and Paula Wagner.
This isn’t the first time a popular literary character has been given the make-over for Hollywood star and we are sure it won’t be the last. In fact, Cruise fans will probably remember the outrage author Anne Rice and her fans had at pretty boy Cruise’s casting as Lestat the Vampire in Interview With The Vampire in the mid 90′s but they all came around when they saw exactly what the actor did with the role. Rice famously did a complete U-turn and said he was magnificent.
We are banking on Cruise making the Reacher character his own. Cruise will make the movie before work on Joseph Kosinski’s Oblivion begins at Universal in January. Sound off in our comments section on whether you think Cruise will bring the intensity and intimidation of a 6’5”, 250 pound man in what could be yet another awesome vehicle for Cruise!