“Costs Me Nothing, But For TV…”: Lee Child Explains His Biggest Worry For Reacher Season 3

Lee Child, author of the Jack Reacher books, has explained his biggest worry for Reacher season 3, and how the show is going to address his fears. Reacher season 3 is based on the seventh book in the series, Persuader, and sees the titular character, played by Alan Ritchson, on a mission to rescue a DEA informant as more of his past gets explored. The first three episodes are now streaming on Prime Video, while the rest of the season will air weekly on Thursdays on the platform.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, however, Child explained his fears that Reacher season 3 wasn't going to be able to find an actor to portray Paulie from Persuader. The author explained how, in a book, it's easy to write a character who's seven feet tall and extremely muscular, but it's more difficult in a TV show due to needing an actor who matches that role. Luckily, bodybuilder Olivier Richters was a perfect fit, alleviating any fears the author had about the adaptation. Check out what Child had to say below:

As you know, Reacher is a big, tough guy. He can take anybody on, but I wanted to have him face an opponent that would be a real problem. So I dreamed up this huge, steroid-filled, bodybuilding, seven-foot guy, big enough to really be worrisome for Reacher. That's easy to do as a book writer because you just type different words — costs me nothing, but for TV, they actually had to find an actor that could be that guy, a foot taller than Alan Ritchson, a hundred pounds heavier.
Where are we going to find that guy? That was the thing that I thought, 'How are they going to do this?' It was literally an international search. We finally found him in the Netherlands and he looks the part, he plays the part, he is a scary dude.

What Child's Concerns For Paulie Say About Reacher Season 3

The Show Is Maintaining Accuracy To The Books

Olivier Richters as Paulie looking serious next to Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher looking serious in Reacher season 3

Despite the author's worries, the show was able to get Richters for the role of Paulie, a perfect fit considering the Dutch bodybuilder stands at 7 feet 2 inches. His casting has also been a core reason for Reacher season 3's positive reviews, contributing heavily to the new storyline that unfolds. While he's not the only aspect of Persuader the new episodes needed to get right, the character towering over the protagonist was an important element that had to be part of the on-screen adaptation.

Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher, shirtless, in Reacher season 3

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Alongside Paulie, the cast of Reacher season 3 consists of other important newcomers. This includes DEA Agent Susan Duffy (Sonya Cassidy), an enemy from Reacher's past, Francis Xavier Quinn (Brian Tee), and suspicious rug importer Zachary Beck (Anthony Michael Hall). Johnny Berchtold plays Zachary's son Richard, while Roberto Montesinos portrays Guillermo Villanueva. All of these characters will be important to bringing the story to life, with Paulie being one of the major elements that makes this season in particular stand out.

Our Take On Paulie's Casting In Reacher Season 3

Richters Was The Perfect Person For The Job

Paulie crossing his arms in Reacher season 3

Given his massive stature, Richters ended up being the perfect casting choice for Paulie, with all the show's promotional material teasing how the main character may have met his match. Without the bodybuilder in the role, it wouldn't have been as powerful a contrast, nor would it have been an accurate reflection of the book season 3 is based on. Since he's poised to be a powerful presence in the show, he's liable to steal the spotlight in Reacher's latest storyline as it continues.

Reacher has already been renewed for season 4, while a Neagley spinoff is also in development.

Source: EW