Bad news for snowbound thriller lovers: if you were hoping to see61 Hoursadapted in a future season ofReacher, it’s probably not happening. In an interview,Lee Childconfirmed that some books from his long-running Jack Reacher series are simply “impossible” to adapt for television — and yes,61 Hourstops the list. That revelation puts a bit of a chill on fans’ dreams of seeing everyReacher book brought to lifebyAlan Ritchsonand Prime Video’s action juggernaut.
So far, the show has skipped around the series’ chronology, adaptingKilling Floor(Book 1),Bad Luck and Trouble(Book 11), andPersuader(Book 7), withGone Tomorrow(Book 13) confirmed for Season 4. But if you were hoping the series might do the full 25+ book run, Child’s comments may have just thrown a wrench in that theory.
So which books are on the chopping block? Child singled out61 Hours, the fourteenth novel in the series, as one that’s unlikely to ever make the leap to live-action. Why? Snow. Lots of it.
“61 Hoursmight never see the light of day [as a TV season] because of its snowbound landscape,” Child said, noting that the book’s wintry South Dakota setting would pose a major headache for production. Shooting in actual snow is unpredictable and filming on artificial sets is expensive — and you’re able to forget doing multiple takes: “It’s impossible to do take two, because take one has already put footprints in the snow,” Child explained.
Even though the book is one of the more atmospheric and mystery-driven entries in the series, its setting makes it a logistical nightmare. That means no icy showdowns, no snow-covered secrets, and no frosty cliffhangers onPrime Videoanytime soon. Even though the idea of Reacher as an abominable snowman is absolutely hilarious.
What ‘Reacher’ Books Won’t Be Filmed?
Child also acknowledged that not all of his novels are ideal for TV. Some are simply weaker entries in the series (Past Tense, anyone?), while others — likeThe Visitor— are too light on action to suit the show’s high-octane tone. Then there are books likeMake MeandWorth Dying For, which go so dark and violent they’d likely alienate a chunk of the show’s audience. Even though we do love seeing the Big Guy smash fools. Two more books that are basically off the table?One ShotandNever Go Back.Those were the source material for theTom CruiseReacher movies, and the Prime Video series has been keen to avoid overlap. Season 2 even included a subtle reference toOne Shot, implying those events already happened off-screen.
ReacherSeason 4 is filming now. Seasons 1-3 are on Prime Video.
When retired Military Police Officer Jack Reacher is arrested for a murder he did not commit, he finds himself in the middle of a deadly conspiracy full of dirty cops, shady businessmen and scheming politicians. With nothing but his wits, he must figure out what is happening in Margrave, Georgia. The first season of Reacher is based on the international bestseller The Killing Floor by Lee Child.
Source:Fortress of Solitude
