Warning: Major spoilers for Reacher season 3 episode 1 “Persuader” below!With a single line,Reacherseason 3 has ruled out the show readapting Tom Cruise sequelNever Go Back.The casting of Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher was controversialwhen it was announced - and has remained so. It’s not that Cruise gave a bad performance; he just wasn’t anybody’s image of the hulking drifter featured inLee Child’sReachernovels. Amazon’sReacherwiped the slate clean for Alan Ritchson to take over the part, with the show wisely avoiding readapting either of the books that Cruise’s films were based on.
This extends to not featuring characters from the Cruise duology, including Major Susan Turner. In the novels, Turner took over as commanding officer of the 110th Special Investigators after Reacher left the army, with the two developing a connection through various phone calls. Cobie Smulders played Turner in 2016’sJack Reacher: Never Go Back, where Cruise’s title character teams up with the Major to clear her name.The premiere episode ofReacherseason 3 sees Ritchson’s anti-hero calling Turner for help, only to learn she’s awayon an undercover assignment.
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Reacher Season 3’s Susan Turner Reference Rules Out Adapting Never Go Back
Reacher is never going back to Never Go Back
The notable part of Reacher’s call to Turner’s office is his line, “I’m calling in that favor she owes me.” It’s a throwaway reference that’s easy to miss, butthis line heavily implies the events ofNever Go Backhappened offscreen in the world ofReacher. By the end of that book, Turner’s name had been cleared thanks to Reacher’s assistance, so it’s only fair she would owe Reacher a solid in the aftermath. Unluckily for Reacher, Turner isn’t available to repay the favor.
It’s interesting that Amazon’sReacherdidn’t give Turner - one of the few recurring characters from the novels - a cameo, which could have set her up for a future appearance. This was likely avoided for a few reasons.Turner doesn’t appear in thePersuaderbook, so it may have felt like fan service. Two, unless the showrunners know that Turner will appear in the next season, it would be a mistake to lock an actor into the role so soon. Finally, the series can delay direct comparisons to the Cruise duology for a bit longer.
Reacher Season 2 Already Ruled Out Adapting Tom Cruise’s Other Jack Reacher Movie
TheNever Go Backeaster egg recalls a similar tacticReachertook regarding the Cruise films in season 2. In an early second season episode, Reacher references sniper James Barr and how he “owes me now.” This was an obvious nod toOne Shot, where Barr was accused of a mass shooting, while his mortal enemy Reacher ended up clearing his name after uncovering a criminal conspiracy. With his “owes me” comment,Reachereffectively shut down a possibleOne Shotreadaption,which was a smart move.
… whileNever Go Backis a mediocre movie, the originalJack Reacheris a solid action thriller from director Christopher McQuarrie.
It would be intriguing to see Ritchson’s Reacher in a story previously covered by Cruise’s take on the character- but that’s a lose-lose situation. It would feel like Amazon’s show is intentionally leaning into the Ritchson/Cruise comparisons, intending to prove the former is the “best.” This would be a tacky move, and whileNever Go Backis a mediocre movie, the originalJack Reacheris a solid action thriller from director Christopher McQuarrie. The Cruise movies should be left in peace, and with the Susan Turner/Never Go Backreference in the season 3 premiere ofReacher, it looks like the show is doing exactly that.
Reacher
Cast
Reacher follows Jack Reacher, a former military police investigator, as he navigates civilian life. Without a phone and carrying minimal belongings, Reacher drifts across the country, experiencing the nation he once served, and encounters intriguing challenges along the way.
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back is the sequel to the 2012 original based on the Novel by Lee Child. Finally trying to meet face to face with his support over the years, Jack heads to Washington to meet Major Susan Turner, only to discover that she has been accused of treason and arrested. Jack quickly deduces that she is being framed - and after helping her escape, the two team up to get to the center of a deadly government conspiracy.
