Since 1997, author Lee Child has been the mastermind behind the Jack Reacher universe. The franchise includes novels—many of which are now written by Child’s younger brother, Andrew—as well as two films starring Tom Cruise, released in 2013 and 2016. Recently, Child has taken charge of expanding his literary creation into the realm of television, with Prime Video’s “Reacher,” which has just premiered its third season. This series has become a genuine phenomenon, already renewed for a fourth season, with plans for a spinoff centered on a beloved character from Reacher lore.
Child views this expansion not as a shift in direction but rather as an addition to the existing narrative. “It’s adding a gear that I already knew,” he stated in an interview with TheWrap. Before achieving international bestselling status, Child worked in television in England, giving him unique insight into how Jack Reacher transitioned from a literary titan to a television sensation. “Fundamentally, it’s about story. I don’t care how the story is told. I don’t care what medium it is. No doubt in the future, we’re going to have all different kinds of media that somehow communicate story. And so the exact mechanism doesn’t matter. What matters to me is that people get the story, and streaming television is a great new way of doing that.”
Reflecting on the advantages of streaming, Child remarked, “It’s perfect for the novels because you’ve got the time to keep everything that you need to keep, whereas any other kind of adaptation, like a feature film, is all about ruthless cutting.” He likened the resulting adaptations to a Reader’s Digest version of a story, where the essence may remain, but much of the flavor is lost. “You’re missing out on the contrast, the light and the shade and the quiet parts,” he added.
This season of “Reacher” is based on his 2003 novel “Persuader,” where Reacher becomes involved in a DEA operation tied to his past. The previous two seasons also delve into Reacher’s personal history—Season 1 adapted “Killing Floor,” focusing on his brother’s death, while Season 2 drew from “Bad Luck and Trouble,” which featured a villain targeting members of Reacher’s old army unit.
Child explained that the structure of the series was by design, aiming to attract a massive audience, including those unfamiliar with Reacher. “To a certain extent, he needed explaining,” he noted. The first season introduced Reacher through his actual family, while the second focused on his military family. “Now we can cut loose and do what we want,” he said.
In Season 3, while a shadowy figure from Reacher’s past makes an appearance, Child insists that this season embodies a classic lone wolf Reacher narrative—”alone, no help, no support, in danger, completely self-reliant.” This freedom has allowed the show to explore various storylines. “In the future, we’re pretty much at liberty to do anything we want,” Child said. “We’ll do that Podunk town where he kills 50 guys. We’ll do one that involves the White House or whatever. We’ve staked out the territory now and we can fill the gaps any way we want.”
This season’s solitary journey for Reacher means that his close ally, Neagley (played by Maria Sten), is absent. Neagley, a surprise hit of the series, is slated to receive her own spinoff. “She totally owns that character,” Child stated. “I can’t see past her anymore. She has claimed that role and she totally deserves that spinoff,” he added, expressing hope for its success.
For years, fans—affectionately known as Reacher Creatures—have approached Child, suggesting Neagley deserves her own series. Initially hesitant, Child acknowledged the character’s mysterious nature but is now excited about the potential spinoff developed by Nick Santora, who has crafted an explanation for Neagley’s background. “I think the solution that he came up with is magnificent, and I’m professionally, incredibly jealous of it,” Child remarked.
As for the main “Reacher” series, Child, who has penned a bestselling novel every year—twice producing interconnected Reacher novels in 2010—hopes the show continues to thrive. “Let’s hope it continues for a long time,” he concluded.
New episodes of “Reacher” drop every Thursday on Prime Video.
The post ‘Reacher’ Author Lee Child on Season 3 and Being ‘Incredibly Jealous’ of That Neagley Spinoff appeared first on TheWrap.
