Jack Reacheris back and better than ever! AfterTom Cruisetook on the role in two feature film adaptations,Jack ReacherandJack Reacher: Never Go Back, that never quite captured the spirit, tenacity, and wit of the novels or the character. Thankfully for fans, though, the new Amazon Prime series,Reacher, is a much more loyal adaptation ofLee Child’sincredibly popular series of novels.Alan Ritchsonsteps into the shoes of the man-mountain, using his immense height and build to embody the character in a way that Cruise never could. The series has been well received by fans and critics alike, appreciating thebrisk and brutal nature of the adaptation.
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While Reacher might pose a gigantic threat (literally) to the criminals who stumble into his path, that isn’t to say there aren’t any fictional characters capable of overpowering the wandering drifter. Brute strength is good for a lot of things, but it’s no match for the martial arts prowess of John Wick or the exceptional driving ability of Dom Toretto.
John Wick — Keanu Reeves
Putting aside the two characters' sense of style (for which Wick clearly comes out on top), there isn’t much to separate Ritchson’s towering threat from the flawlessly coolJohn Wick(Keanu Reeves). After seeking revenge for the thugs who killed his dog, Wick dived back into his old life as an assassin, eliminating anyone unfortunate enough to get in his way.
The last time we saw Wick, he managed to survive a chaotic night in which the entire world was out to get him, and things are unlikely to get any easier for the long-haired, stone-cold killer when he returns in the fourth installment, set tohit theatres in 2023. Would he beat Reacher in a fight? It’s hard to say, but we’d sure like to see the two go toe to toe.
Nicholas Angel — Simon Pegg
Does he let teenagers sneak into pubs? No. Does he ever take off his stab vest when he’s on duty? No. But is he capable of putting the hurt on an entire town of twisted murderers? Yes, he absolutely is. Nicholas Angel is one of the most hilariously uptight action heroes ever brought to screen, andSimon Pegg’soutstanding performance is a big part of what madeHot Fuzzso beloved.
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Though Angel does rely on his partner, Danny Butterman (Nick Frost), for help in his quest for justice, the same can be said of Reacher too. There’s no way he would have been able to uncover what was going on in Margrave without Roscoe (Willa Fitzgerald) and Finlay (Malcolm Goodwin). If it’s a team brawl, however, it’s hard to look past Angel and Butterman, especially if they’re powered up on Cornettos.
Ashtray — Javon Walton
Ok, let’s be honest, on paper, this one seems like a mismatch. Given that Reacher is a six-foot-five, 250-pound man and Ashtray is a small child; it’s easy to jump to the obvious conclusion. But we can’t forget Ashtray’s superpower. He can sense danger no matter the situation. Not only did he save his brother Fez (Angus Cloud) from certain death at the hands of Mouse, but he also handled the unexpected arrival of Cal (Eric Dane) perfectly too.
Ashtray can read any situation and assess potential threats as though he has a spider-sense. The world’s criminals wouldn’t stand a chance if he and Reacher were to team up and use their powers for good. Now that’s a world we’d all like to live in.
Dom Toretto — Vin Diesel
Across nine films and two decades, Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) hasn’t come across many people capable of stopping him and his 1970 Dodge Charger from speeding off into the sunset. While hand-to-hand combat wouldn’t favor Toretto, who’s made hard work of overcoming both Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and Shaw (Jason Statham) in the past, place him behind the wheel of a car, and the odds dramatically shift in his favor.
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While the series gives us brief glimpses of Reacher’s driving ability, it’s nothing compared to the nitro-fuelled prowess of Toretto, who has outrun a submarine and will soon be back to do something even crazier, joined byJason Momoain the tenth installment.
Walter White — Breaking Bad
Now here’s a character that Jack Reacher would have good reason to come to blows with. Walter White (Bryan Cranston) was first introduced to audiences as a cowardly teacher who turned to a life of crime when faced with his mortality. Over five seasons, White adopted the persona “Heisenberg,” becoming cold, calculated, and unwavering in his pursuit of money and power.
Reacher, of course, would seek to stop White and his drug empire, given that his moral compass is constantly pulling a double shift. This would be a fascinating rivalry because Walter would combat Reacher’s brute strength with his incredible intelligence, providing a unique challenge for Ritchson’s character.
Sarah Connor — Linda Hamilton
Sure, facing off against all six feet and five inches of Jack Reacher is an intimidating prospect. But it’s nothing compared to facing off against an almost indestructible cyborg sent back in time to kill you. Still, despite having no training or weapons expertise inThe Terminator, Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) was able to defeat the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and save the life of her unborn son.
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In the years that followed, Sarah trained herself to become a killing machine, capable of slaying any Terminator sent back in time to kill her. With that in mind, it’s hard to think Reacher would even remotely trouble Connor in a fight, especially if she’s got her hands on a machine gun of some sort.
Black Widow — Scarlett Johansson
After taking on Thanos (Josh Brolin), Ultron (James Spader), and even surviving a run-in with the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), the prospect of a fistfight with drifter Jack Reacher is unlikely to unnerve Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson). Though it’s unclear why these two would ever square off against one another (perhaps some form of Loki (Tom Hiddleston) mind control), it would be a fascinating match-up.
Much like the Taskmaster in Black Widow, Reacher would likely be able to analyze Black Widow’s fighting style, looking for any weaknesses or areas he can exploit. Of course, though, Black Widow’s suit is powered with Stark technology, whereas Reacher’s T-shirt and jeans are simply a T-shirt and jeans, which might tip the odds in the Avengers' favor.
The Meg — As Itself
It’s a genuine compliment to Jack Reacher that we haven’t entirely written him off in a fight againstThe Meg, but if Jason Statham can take down the gigantic beast, why can’t Reacher? The series clarifies that Reacher can swim, which is essential when planning to fight a Megalodon. He’s also a crack shot, which is equally important when planning to hunt a gigantic sea creature.
Reacher’s agility will also play a key role, although staying out of the Meg’s clutches will probably prove much more complicated than ducking and weaving through a knife fight. With all of this considered, if you plant Reacher on a boat with just a harpoon gun and his wits, we think he has at least a fifty percent chance of surviving the encounter. So, listen up, studio execs, we want Reacher inThe Meg Two, and we want it now!
