Friday 16 July 2010

Result

If you haven't read Lee Child's Jack Reacher series you're missing out. The Reacher books are hopelessly addictive and would make for a brilliant movie franchise. They've picked the right book, One Shot, to begin with, and the news that Chris McQuarrie has signed on to write the script and possibly direct the movie should thrill anyone who, like, me was a massive fan of McQuarrie's much underrated but utterly brilliant debut feature, The Way Of The Gun. If you've not seen it, then might I suggest you stop reading right now, and rectify that situation immediately. Then, head to your local bookstore, pick up any Reacher novel and prepare to partake of the next day or two of your life...

4 comments:

Withnail Books said...

I love the Reacher books (though I've not read the most recent one yet, so shush!). One Shot was actually the first one I read. I'd just left the pub, where a certain comic book writer friend of mine had been raving about how great Reacher was, and I reached Waterloo to find that the Evening Standard were giving away a free copy of One Shot with the paper. Instantly hooked, and I think I've now read all bar 3 or 4. One Shot, even though it's not the first Reacher novel, does make sense as a first movie. It's a tight thriller plot, won't cost a fortune to film, and the fact that you'll meet Reacher in mid-flow as it were is a bonus rather than a problem I'd say. Better to meet him and have to work out his background for yourselves, rather than have it all laid out up front. The big question is who is going to play him. Lee Child has apparently taken himself out of the process completely, and is treating the film with a 'I wish them well, but it's nothing to do with me' attitude (kind of like a benign Alan Moore, without the invocation of snake gods). I think this is wise. It's not going to happen, but I think they should cast a hulking great unknown: Reacher should be Reacher, not a 'star' playing Reacher. I bet it ends up being Hugh Jackman though.

Mark Salisbury said...

Weirdly, One Shot was the first one I read too, and along with Bad Luck & Trouble has remained my favourite.

Jackman's got the build but I don't think I'd buy him as Reacher. Finding the right actor is going to be hard.

Withnail Books said...

I'd vote for Christopher Heyerdahl. He's been in Stargate and Twilight, is 6 foot 4 and is pretty tough looking:
http://img5.allocine.fr/acmedia/rsz/434/x/x/x/medias/nmedia/18/65/34/86/18855075.jpg

Mark Salisbury said...

I can see where you're coming from but I'm not convinced.