Where was Reacher filmed? Filming locations of the Alan Ritchson action crime series, explored

Amazon Prime Video's Reacher, based on the series of novels written by Lee Child, will premiere its Season 3 on the platform on February 20, 2025. The highly acclaimed show will adapt Child's seventh book, Persuader, in season 3, where Jack goes on a revenge mission while rescuing a fellow agent who is about to get his cover blown.

The show stars Alan Ritchson as Jack, who is a former U.S. Army military police major and is now living as a civilian, and takes multiple undercover missions in different locations.

Filming locations are one of the most important parts of a thriller series like Reacher, as they add an extra layer of danger to the protagonist's journey.

The majority of seasons 1 and 2 were shot in Toronto and Ontario, Canada. And set photos from season 3 suggest that filming for Season 3 also took place in Millbrook, Ontario, but specific locations from Season 3 are yet to be revealed.

Here is a look at the major filming locations from Reacher.

Exploring the filming location for Reacher Season 1

The Principal photography for Season 1 and most of the show took place in Toronto and Ontario. Here are some filming locations for season 1:

1) The fictional town of Margrave is set in Pickering, Ontario

Jack lands in the fictional town of Margrave in Georgia in season 1. The crew built a set of towns and roads in the Pickering area of Ontario, Canada. The calmness of Pickering made it an ideal spot for the show's setting in season 1.

The quiet, small Southern town of Margrave was built in a small area outside Pickering, creating the small-town feel makers wanted for season 1.

2) Port Perry

Port Perry in Ontario was again a popular location used in many scenes of season 1. The scenes involving Roscoe's apartment and the nearby diner were all shot in Port Perry.

The crew especially used Perry Street and Queen Street to shoot scenes that needed an intense or intimate buildup, as they were the perfect locations to visualize the essence of the story in those scenes.

3) Maple Leaf Motel, Scarborough

A small but important location for Reacher Season 1. The motel was used in a scene where Jack and Roscoe spend a night because of the storm. This was when they were chasing a lead and had to take shelter in the motel because of the storm.

The episode featured Jack in a playful conversation with Roscoe while dancing to soft music, which is a rare spectacle for the series. Thus, it became an iconic location for the fans of the show.

4) Kingston Penitentiary

The Penitentiary at King Street West and Lake Ontario added historical significance and authenticity to the first scene of season 1, where Jack is arrested. This high-security jail is now a museum, but it was chosen to give the viewers the feeling of an actual prison.

Featured in one of the show's first scenes, it was also important for setting the tone and introducing the dangerous world of the protagonist.

5) The Lakeview Restaurant, Dundas Street

Fans of the show must remember an initial scene from season 1, where Jack is eating a pie in a diner moments before he is arrested (as mentioned in the earlier point).

This scene was shot at The Lakeview Restaurant at 1132 Dundas Street, Toronto. The lively setting of the diner is important to establish the civilian life Jack is enjoying before he is pulled and put into a world of secret missions and danger. The location reappears when he encounters Frances Neagley.

6) Stratford Suburban Motel

Ten minutes away from Queens Park, the motel is a beautiful spot covered with lush green gardens and picture-perfect spots. But contrary to these views, the motel was used for its parking lot to shoot an important scene in season 1.

In the scene where Jack fights with the three runaway miscreants, the location is the dimly lit parking lot of the Stratford Motel, which is an important scene for the narrative in season 1.

Exploring the filming locations for Reacher Season 2

1) Brampton

The shoot for season 2 took place in one of Ontario's cities, Brampton, and it was reported that the crew shot in a single street in downtown Brampton in November 2022.

The location change, a drastic contrast to the small and quiet Margarve, was a conscious choice by the makers to give the viewers the feeling that Jack is now on a new mission, leaving Margrave's security behind.

2) Hamilton

Looks like the fans were curious why Reacher isn't shot in the US, to which actor Ritchson revealed this in an interview with Cinemablend:

“People want to know how the business works? It’s currency exchange. Tax credits. Rebates out the wahzoo in Toronto. You get an extra five percent if you’re in Hamilton!”

Makers chose Hamilton for monetary benefits, but the historical and serene visuals added to the show worked in their favor.

3) Cayuga, Ontario

Thirty minutes south of Hamilton, the county seat of Haldimand County, Ontario was another filming location for Season 2. While the makers wanted a change of scenery for the sophomore season, they still needed a scenic location to shoot some intimate moments from the show, where Cayuga came in handy.

Village Green and The Thrifty Dresser were some iconic locations in Cayuga, where some scenes of Season 2 were shot.

The first set of photos from Reacher Season 3 suggests that the upcoming season was also shot in Millbrook, Ontario, a popular filming location for the show's makers since Season 1. Jack's story will take a new turn in season 3, and he will go on a new mission in a new location. Tune in to Amazon Prime Video on February 20, 2025, to catch new episodes of Reacher Season 3.