There have been two Movies based on the action hero created by British author Lee Child. These were “Jack Reacher” in 2012 followed by “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back” in 2016. Tom Cruise portrayed the role and won plaudits but he is now no longer in contention for the future versions on Netflix.

The reason is his height. It appears to be inconsistent with the description of the character. Lee Child, the author, depicts the action hero in his novels as a huge man who stands at 6ft 5in and has super large size hands.

Daily Mail UK reports that Lee Child says the feedback of viewers after the “Jack Reacher (2012)” and “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016)” was not favorable for Tom Cruise.

Their feeling was that “Mission Impossible” star Tom Cruise was a misfit for the role because of his height.

Jack Reacher will move to Netflix

Lee Child wrote 23 novels on the exploits of a former US military policeman with an enviable stature that sets him apart. Obviously, an actor whose height is much less would not fit the bill but Tom Cruise portrayed the character in two films and the films did a fair amount of business. He is a versatile actor and his performances have been memorable in all his films. In spite of that, he finds no place in the TV version of the series on Netflix.

The search is now on to find a replacement. As Lee Child admits, “further adaptations of his novels will be on the small screen – with a new, much taller hero. The size of the action hero is important because when he enters a room people must become nervous at first sight. Cruise does not fit the bill and there will be a new face for the television series.

Mystery surrounds the decision

The argument put forth by Lee Child, the creator of the 6ft 5in action hero, is one part of the mystery. Tom Cruise was there for the two movies released so far and both have done well at the box office. According to BBC, Christopher McQuarrie directed the film “Jack Reacher” in 2012 and it earned $218 million at box offices across the globe.

Tom Cruise got positive reviews for this first movie. Its sequel was “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back” in 2016. Its earnings were $162 million and it received a mixed response.

The stage appears set for Jack Reacher, a former major in the US military police, to occupy space in a TV series on Netflix. Obviously, a reboot is on the cards and a new face could help reap dividends. The hunt is on to find the perfect person because not only is Tom Cruise too short but he is also in his mid-50s.
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