Alan Ritchson, known for his role as Jack Reacher in the hit TV show “Reacher,” recently made an appearance on the popular talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live. During his interview, Ritchson discussed his experiences on the show, fighting his fellow actors, and even shared a heartfelt letter he wrote to the previous Jack Reacher, Tom Cruise.
Ritchson, who plays the former military Lone Wolf Jack Reacher, gave viewers a taste of what to expect in the upcoming season by showing a thrilling action-packed clip. Kimmel expressed his enjoyment of watching Ritchson beat people up on the show and wondered if Ritchson also enjoyed watching himself in those scenes. Ritchson humorously revealed that it was indeed enjoyable, especially since the actors he fights are his friends. It seems that going from having lunch together to pounding each other is a common occurrence on set.
As the conversation continued, Kimmel acknowledged the show’s popularity, and Ritchson expressed his gratitude. He recalled a memorable event at Madison Square Garden where fans recognized him and his co-stars. Ritchson comically described being escorted out the back of the venue, expecting a large crowd, only to find one elderly lady with a walker shouting, “Reacher, Reacher!” He couldn’t believe that a 90-year-old grandmother was a fan of his fight scenes.
The topic then shifted to Ritchson taking over the role of Jack Reacher from Tom Cruise, who had played the character in previous movies. Ritchson expressed his admiration for Cruise and acknowledged the criticism Cruise faced due to not fitting the physical description of Reacher as described in the books. Ritchson wanted to show his gratitude, so he wrote Cruise a heartfelt letter thanking him for passing the torch and helping bring attention to the series. Unfortunately, Ritchson’s boss decided not to give the letter to Cruise, thinking it was unnecessary. While Ritchson didn’t directly communicate with Cruise, he hoped his words reached him in some way during the interview.
Amidst the conversation, Kimmel revealed an interesting fact about Ritchson – he once participated in American Idol. A clip from his time on the show showcased Ritchson’s singing abilities and his good looks, as emphasized by Paula Abdul’s reaction. Ritchson shared that being on American Idol was a fun experience, but he also joked about the jealousy and envy from other contestants and how being portrayed as a model contributed to those feelings.
Ritchson wrapped up his interview by showcasing his songwriting skills and expressed his willingness to write a song for Tom Cruise. He even jokingly asked if he could perform the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live in the future.
Fans can catch Alan Ritchson in the highly-anticipated Season 2 of “Reacher,” premiering on Amazon Prime Video. With Ritchson’s impressive performance and the show’s growing popularity, it’s sure to be another thrilling and action-packed season.
