"Don’t want to give him advice": Lee Child on Alan Ritchson’s portrayal of Reacher in the Amazon Prime show - here’s why

Reacher is back with its third season, and it's bigger than ever. This season, things get even more dangerous as Reacher goes undercover to take down an old enemy once and for all.

The first four episodes are already available to stream, and fans can't keep calm—especially since Reacher faces a larger threat this time. And we don’t mean that metaphorically. We mean it literally.

Alan Ritchson once again shines as Reacher in the Amazon Prime show. The role seems to fit him like a glove. His acting skills and physique align perfectly with the book's description of the character, making the show feel even more authentic.

However, author Lee Child chose not to give any feedback on Ritchson's portrayal of Reacher. He felt that doing so might affect the actor's performance and even his confidence.

Read on to know more.

---

Reacher: Alan Ritchson’s portrayal in the Amazon Prime show

In the novels, Reacher is a formidable figure—tall, physically imposing, and fiercely independent. Oh, and he's sharp as a knife too. No matter how hard his enemies try to bring him down, he always manages to win the fight.

Alan Ritchson brings the book's Reacher to life perfectly, with his broad physique and commanding on-screen presence. This is what makes his portrayal of the character even more noteworthy and authentic.

Readers of the novels know how important Reacher's physicality is to the character. Many times, we've seen him take down guys with his bare hands. Ritchson’s imposing stature and natural ability to express both the physical and emotional depth of Reacher resonate with fans who have long imagined him as the perfect fit for the role.

It’s not just about the physical likeness but also how Ritchson brings the character's moral compass, sharp intellect, and stoic demeanor to the screen. This combination of authenticity and depth in Ritchson’s performance has allowed fans to see a Jack Reacher who stays true to the essence of the character they know and love.

Read more: Reacher Season 3: Paulie was portrayed a bit differently from Lee Child's OG book and here's the reason why

---

Reacher: Lee Child on Alan Ritchson’s portrayal in the Amazon Prime show

Lee Child, the author behind the iconic Jack Reacher series, has spoken about Alan Ritchson’s portrayal of the titular character in the Amazon Prime show. And his thoughts are definitely going to excite fans of both the books and the series.

He shared with Screen Time:

“Alan is super hard-working and very professional. It’s a brutal process, the fight scenes he has to do are agonising, painful. And he takes it all on the chin and that then means the rest of the cast have to live up to that. It’s like an on-field captain role that he does really well, no one sees that but it’s super important.”

Authors usually have a clear picture of their characters—their looks, personalities, and how they carry themselves. So when a book gets adapted for the screen, they often have strong ideas about how the character should be portrayed.

But for Lee Child, that wasn’t a problem with Reacher. The casting was spot on, and Alan Ritchson, in particular, was the perfect fit. Fans agree—Ritchson not only nailed Reacher’s physicality but also captured the depth and presence Lee had imagined. It was like seeing the character come to life straight from the pages.

Child told Screen Time that he didn’t feel the need to give Alan any direction for the role. He says:

“I feel like I don’t want to give him advice and I don’t want him to ask for advice. What I’m hoping is that we cast him correctly and then it is up to him. It gives him, to be unquestioned, it gives him confidence to go ahead and give the right result. I think that if I was nagging at him all the time, ‘Do this, do that,’ I think it would destroy his confidence and make him a little nervous. So, my best role is to stay out of that."

He further shared that Alan does his own homework for the character:

"He’s a smart guy, he reads the books over and over again very closely and mines them for the emotional cues and so on. And I think he does that really well."

Child believes that the casting of the show was done brilliantly. He said:

"If somebody asked me, ‘What am I happiest about?’ it is that casting decision. We knew it was critical, obviously. The title of the show is Reacher. It’s all about him, he carries it. He carries it on the screen but he also carries it off the screen because what people don’t see is that the lead actor sets the tone, he sets the bar for the rest of the cast and crew."

So, Alan Ritchson proves that he is not just filling big shoes. He’s actually owning the role of Jack Reacher for the film and the fans.

Read more: Reacher Season 3, Episode 5: What could be next after Quinn’s shocking reveal in Episode 4?

---

Stay tuned to Soap Central for more updates and detailed coverage on your favorite shows!