Lee Child/Jack Reacher/Tom Cruise

[derrynoose]

I heard at the weekend that Tom Cruise is to play the part of Jack Reacher in a film edition of one of Lee Child's books. Can this be true???

[jno]

pretty well the whole cast played Bond in the first Casino Royale, but that doesn't count as it was so unfunny.

[jno]

actually, I should have said the second Casino Royale, shouldn't I. Barry Nelson played him in the first one.

[ludwig]

In Lord of the Rings, all the hobbits and dwarves were played by tall people.

[emmie]

this is the digital age, they can be downsized.

[emmie]

you simply can't make tom thumb looks like a he man.

[bednobs]

someone said on one of those threads "he's not short when he's standing on his wallet" I liked that.

[ludwig]

I'm reminded of the Cook / Moore one legged Tarzan sketch..
"I like your right leg, it's a lovely leg for the role. I've got nothing against your right leg. The trouble is neither have you."

[emmie]

so who would you cast in the role, not liam Neeson, he is looking decidedly odd these days, think he has had surgery, and is getting on a bit.

[bednobs]

gerrard butler!

[Jonestheroad]

It's like Father Ted - Tom Cruise close up or Chuck Norris in the distance.
Talking of which, when Alexander Graham Bell finally invented the first telephone he had thre missed calls from Chuck Norris. :)

[LyndaB]

OH and I are both massive Jack Reacher fans, and have said for years that these books would make brilliant films. We were absolutely astounded to hear that Tom Cruise was to play the part. Apparently the director (or whoever) has said that Reacher's size is all in the reader 's mind. Well, sorry, Mr Money Man, every Reacher book I have read, and I have read most of them, starts off with Reacher's CV - including his vital statistics. Tom Cruise is a fine actor, but I can't help but wonder what other liberties have been taken with the script? My choice would have been Liam Neeson, as someone has already said. I will probably watch the film, but it will be very difficult to pretend that Tom Cruise is 6'5" and built like a brick thingy house!!!

[nannybooby]

personally I think the guy in Person of Interest would be a good Jack Reacher ...sorry Tom Cruise noway.

[andy-hughes]

As advised, this has been debated with mich gnashing of teeth by confirmed Reacher fans, of whom I am fevetly one.

For me, it is not just the height issue with tiddly Tom, although that is obviously an issue - it is simply his utter lack of prescence that will make him wrong for the part.

I have never understood why TC is revered as an actor, to me he is wooden, samey, utterly without conviction, and lacking any basic ability to inhabit and project a character on screen.

For these reasons, he will be almentable as JR - and I am amazed at Lee Childs sanctioning such a move.

Given that the picture of the man on the hardback jackets is actually the author himself, maybe they should have cast him the role!!!

[LeMarchand]

Not a huge fan of TC, but as i haven't read the books he doesn't seem too out of place in the trailer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK7y8Ou0VvM

[Duncer]

Nay, nay and thrice nay.

Read my first Reacher book this week and Cruise just won't do.

[andy-hughes]

I have recently read an interview with Lee Child who confirms his satisfaction with TC playing JR - Child believes that Cruise has the acting prescence to make his height unimportant - but for fans of his books, it is an issue, we will have to view the film and try not to snigger too much.

I am willing to give Cruise a chance, but if it's anything like is 'action hero' persona in the Mission Implausible nonsense he curns out, I may be leaving early.

[andy-hughes]

That is simple toes, but Reacher fans would love to see their hero brought to the screen - and most will watch the film, but we have to say that on first hearing, the idea of Tiny Tom playing the role seemed entirely at odds with the original character we all immagine.

Still - if an Irish convict called Red - because of his red hair - can be realised by Morgan Freeman, maybe it is a matter of how the whole film is made, rather than just the perception of the main character.

Will let you know.

[andy-hughes]

Sorry - I think that should be Irish-American - but which ever way, Red is certainly not black!!!