Calling all Lee Childs fans
 

All of you who read Lee Childs know about Jack Reacher. He is 6'5 inches tall and weighs 250 pounds, he is one big boy!! Well, I went to the movies the other day and saw a preview of a movie called 'Jack Reacher' and I was so excited ........until I found out the star is Tom Cruise! I am so upset ! I like Tom, but 6'5" tall, he ain't. I guess the author signed his 'picking the title role' rights away. Thanks for letting me moan about this very little detail in life.

Oh no. A very short Reacher--what next?!:)

He is so NOT who I think about when I read about Jack. Intimidating he's isn't.

I don't know who they could get to play Jack Reacher's role, but it sure shouldn't be Tom Cruise. Tom may be okay for what he did long ago, but Jack Reacher? NOT!!! I have read most of the books Child wrote about Reacher!! He is one of my favorite "heroes" and I am so very disappointed in the movies choice... I doubt I will see it. ()'-(:(

Dontcha hate when they do that!!?? Especially cause I LIKE 'em big!

I agree. Tom is a great actor and I hope he'll make me forget he is not 6'5.

I love Lee Child's books, and agree, Tom C isn't the one for the role.

We've been fuming about that for some time now. It's not just the height - Tom C doesn't have the attitude either. And he's just not that great an actor.

Guess I'll have to check into Lee Childs and Jack Reacher. Don't know about the books but I'm not much of a Tom Cruise fan these days. Didn't see the latest Mission Impossible even when it was on cable.

I've read the first 3 Reacher books and love them. Tom is certainly no Jack R. That's too bad they missed it so bad on casting. :(

I feel your pain. Even if they made everyone around him stand in a hole, Cruise doesn't have the "Reach".

I"m thinking more like Matthew Mcconngay or Ryan Phillips... Oh my...Little Tom....wrong..so wrong...
Jason from General Hospital just quit the show....he would be awesome....

i've read them all except the last 3. but am reading 'wanted man' right now. tom is definitly not my idea of reacher. likewise, when i heard about the initial casting i was very dissapointed. i find an author i like, then usually read lots of his books.

Oh i get so frustrated how they keep giving Cruise roles he shouldn't get.

it makes me furious...have read all the books.....yeck.TC is not ...not even if the remainder of the cast was 4'11" and under and the sets were miniature...................


Jason (GH) would be perfect,kelly Monaco is so cute on DWTS

I've read the books and although the casting may seem shocking I'm going to reserve my judgement until I see the film. I remember people having absolute fits when Reese Witherspoon was set to play June Carter Cash. She went on to win an Oscar and give an absolutely fabulous performance.

I think some people are inclined to comment on Cruise more because of his lifestyle choices. The last Mission Impossible movie was quite good and he at least does most ,if not all , of his own stunts.

I think if we can suspend our beliefs to allow the wonderful but extremely old Liam Niesson and Harrison Ford to explore action hero roles then why not Tom Cruise?

Matt Damon or Dennis Quade would have been better choices.
And, for me Ladyjanedoe has it right: I was never a Cruise fan and his life story hasn't helped.

I agree!!! Maybe we could start a petition! To paraphrase a politician of a past election, "I know Jack Reacher, and you're no Jack Reacher!" :(

I see Joaquin Phoenix - strong, silent, rough and mysterious. Love Reacher character.

The local paper ran a story about Tom (and family-before divorce) when he was in Pittsburgh filming the movie. DH read the article and then turned to me and said, "Who would have chosen him to be Reacher?" This is one we are not headed out to see. If you like Lee Child, you may also try Vince Flynn's (Mitch Rapp) and my favorite, Daniel Silva (Gabe Allon).

Love the Reacher books by Lee Childs. My thoughts exactly when I heard Tom Cruise was to be Reacher. Can't quite picture it but I will go see the movie! Hollwood magic??? You know, hearing music as riding across the field into the sunset.

The guy that currently plays James Bond would be my idea of a good Jack Reacher. I loved the first few books I read by Childs but was disappointed in some of the later ones and have stopped reading them.

I totally agree with you! My husband and I were at the movies, and they had the previews. We said, "Oh, good, a Jack Reacher film". Then they said Tom Cruise, and we both said "NO!!!" The other people in the movie theater probably wondered why we were upset. We have been discussing for years who would make a good Jack Reacher, and Tom Cruise never made the list. One of our likely picks is Tom Selleck.

I don't even know if I want to see the movie. Jack Reacher is too great a character to be abused by Tom Cruise!

NO to Tom.
There are not many big guys in the movies. I can think of only two, Brendon Frazer and the actor who played in the Scorpion King.

I have read every Jack Reacher book and I am totally hooked. I bought "A Wanted Man" but I am saving it to read on a cruise we are taking in Dec. I always take 2 special books to read while lounging around the ship. I belong to a Lee Childs blog and lots of people are upset with Tom Cruise playing Jack Reacher. I was outraged at first, but since there is nothing we can do about it, I am going to see it, if we don't, there will never be another Jack Reacher movie. I think it will be a good movie if we can get past the "height" of TC. He is not my favorite actor for sure, but Lee Child and Jack Reacher are 2 of my favorites. Then if TC was really bad as Reacher we can all complain to the producer, who is probably Tom Cruise!!!

A lot of people thought TC would never make a good vampire, but in "Interview with a Vampire" he did a great job. I have not read the books mentioned, but I usually wait and see before I judge. It m,ight be interesting to see how they handle the height problem...smile

Oh and as far as the latest James Bond is concerned, He can be anything. hee hee hee

Yes, there was quite a stir amongst the Reacher fan community when it was announced that Tom Cruise would play Reacher. Lots of protesting and disappointment that Lee Child approved the choice. I agree, I think Reacher's size is VERY integral to the part, and I don't see how they're going to work Tom Cruise's non-height successfully without significantly changing the storyline.

I have been unable to enjoy ANY Tom Cruise movie after his couch-jumping debacles on Oprah and Leno. It seemed contrived to me, and now every time I look at him, that's all I see - him jumping on couches like a monkey. It makes me wish we could just leave the Hollywood set alone, they do a much better job as actors when they and their lives are mysterious.

My husband and I love to play the "Who Would Make A Good Reacher" game. Tom Selleck and Harrison Ford would be good choices, but they're both too old. After much debate, we think Liev Schreiber would be a great Reacher. He's big, he's physical, he's got that thousand-yard stare, and he's not so memorable in other roles that it would be too confusing. I believe the movie rights for most of the Reacher books have been purchased, and it's highly likely there will be more Reacher movies made.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]373473[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]373474[/ATTACH]

p.s. Nothing is a bigger turn-on than a handsome, muscular, half-naked man holding a baby! ROFL!

Why can't the studio use an unknown actor? I'm sure there are lots of good actors that would make great stars if they were given the chance. We seem to be stuck with the same old 'movie stars' for all the good movies.

Thanks everyone for all your comments. I am reading 'Running Blind' right now and big ole Jack Reacher is in trouble. I am complaining about Tom Cruise only because of his size. Jack Reacher is a big boy and Tom Cruise is not. In each of Lee Childs books he talks about how Jack Reacher stands out because of his size, how he is hard to hide etc etc etc. So why pick a guy who is only 5'6" tall ? I always thought that if Tom Selleck were younger, he would be my pick. I have thought and thought about who would do a good job and I agree that Liev Schrieber would be great. Oh well, they didn't ask us, did they ?

My hubby and I have read all of the Reacher novels, except the last one. It got such poor reviews, I'm afraid to read it! And, IMHO, Tom Cruise is not Reacher! No way, no how! How about Johnny Strong (pictured) or Hugh Jackman?

I kind of picture Tom Selleck in that role. I mean really retired MP, 6'4", 250 lbs., broad shoulders. What part of that spells Tom Cruise? Jack is one of my favorite characters and now I have to picture Mighty Mouse in his place. What a BIG disappointment. We need to band together and send Lee Child an e-mail. Hopefully Tom Cruise didn't get a serial contract and we can put him on the dusty shelf.

Hmmm...he doesn't remind me of the Jack Reacher type but he often appears taller in films. He's too skinny and pretty though also.

They need to hire my 6'7" retired Marine son-in-law. He would make a GOOD one.

I am a Reacher and a Mitch Rapp fan. Never heard of Gabe Allen so I'm going looking on the net for those books. Thanks for the info!

Believe me, he is well aware of his fans' disappointment. When the announcement was made, there was a huge, furious uproar on all the blogs, message boards, forums, etc., but the deed was done. Here are some things he's said about Tom:

In an interview with the BBC, Lee Child said that it would be impossible to find a suitable actor to play the giant Reacher and that it is impossible to recreate the feel of the book on the big screen, but Cruise had the talent to make an effective Reacher.

Child responded to criticism (about Tom's height) by saying, "With another actor, you might get 100 percent of the height but only 90 percent of Reacher. With Tom, you’ll get 100 percent of Reacher with 90 percent of the height."

The contracts are signed and the first movie is due to be released December 21, so it's too late. If the movie is a hit, I'm sure Tom will be on board for more movies.

I have the same problem. Tom Cruise will never be Jack Reacher. How they could pick a 5'7" actor to play Reacher is beyond stupid. There are several other actors that would have been better in that role.

That's just goofy! Really makes one wonder, how he got the role. :thumbdown: