Although Tom Cruise appears larger than life on screen, if he were to allow measurement of his height, he may be categorized as one of the actors whose actual height is shorter than their celluloid appearance suggests. Nevertheless, movie-making tricks like shoe lifts and low-angle shots help Cruise command the screen. This is similar to how Alan Ritchson, who portrays the lead in the ongoing Reacher series on Prime Video, dominates the room in person.
Alan Ritchson
Although Tom Cruise’s reputation for performing action stunts in the Mission: Impossible movie franchise speaks volumes, his height has become a point of contention for devoted followers of the Jack Reacher series. However, Alan Ritchson’s portrayal of Reacher in the ongoing Reacher series on Prime Video is more consistent with the physical appearance described in the books.
Alan Ritchson Hasn’t Watched Jack Reacher Films
During a 2022 interview with The Wrap, Alan Ritchson revealed that he hasn’t watched Jack Reacher and its follow-up, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, due to his apprehension that Cruise’s interpretation of the character could subconsciously influence his portrayal.
“Those were just movies that I missed, and when I got involved, I just decided I didn’t want to risk picking up any of the choices that he made. And it would be easy to do because Tom is a legend, and I grew up watching him. I revere his work. I think it would be inevitable that I’d try and steal something of his because he’s so good.”
Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher
While Ritchson’s statement about not watching the Jack Reacher movies seemed like a planned PR move, allowing him to evade any negative comments about Tom Cruise and his acting skills, it’s also a sensible approach from an acting perspective. Ritchson’s reluctance to watch the movies is rooted in his desire to prevent unintentionally incorporating any of Cruise’s physical or vocal traits while playing the role of Reacher.
Alan Ritchson Didn’t Want To Mimic Tom Cruise
It’s common for actors to replace their predecessors in a role, which can lead to subconsciously mimicking the previous actor’s traits. Although this mimicking can happen involuntarily, Ritchson acknowledges that his role is not to subconsciously emulate Tom Cruise’s version. Instead, he is committed to providing his own unique and distinct portrayal of the character. Lee Child described the book’s character, writing,
“He was one of the largest men she had ever seen outside the NFL. He was extremely tall, and extremely broad, and long-armed, and long-legged. The lawn chair was regular size, but it looked tiny under him. It was bent and crushed out of shape. His knuckles were nearly touching the ground.”
Jack Reacher (2012)
Tom Cruise’s portrayal of the character may not have been entirely true to the character’s original depiction. However, Alan Ritchson’s take on the character offers a more authentic representation of both Lee Child’s and his own vision of the character.
Tom Cruise’s Jack Reacher is available for streaming on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
