Tom Cruise In 'One Shot': Jack Reacher In Lee Child Book-To-Film Adaptation

UPDATE: Cruise's team has confirmed the casting, announcing on his website that he will play Reacher in "One Shot," describing the film as such:

In ‘One Shot,’ Jack Reacher travels to Indiana to investigate the murder of five people gunned down by a sniper. The police easily track and capture the lone gunman, James Barr, but the seemingly airtight case is anything but when Reacher gets involved.
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PREVIOUSLY:

Tom Cruise has made some disparate choices in a recent run of filmography expansion, choosing roles from a wide-ranging swath of genres. He's Stacee Jaxx, famed rockstar in "Rock of Ages," a fallen politico in Dan Fogleman's untitled new drama, and a memory-wiped soldier in "Oblivion."

The common thread in all those films? He's a ladies' man. And you can add another new genre -- and female conquests -- to his resume.

According to Deadline, Cruise has signed on to play Jack Reacher in a big screen adaptation of Lee Child's hit action novel, "One Shot." A tough guy ex-army cop -- described as six foot five in Child's nine book series -- Reacher is called to action to help solve a complex sniper-fired, five victim massacre in small town Indiana. He also has some extracurricular fun, as described on Child's site for the book:

Jack Reacher is working on his tan with a Norwegian blonde on the beach in Miami. The weather is hot and he is so cool you could skate on him. But he doesn't like to stick around. He likes to be on the move. He was in the machine his whole life. Then the machine coughed and spat him out. Now he takes it easy. He's not looking for trouble. But sometimes trouble looks for Reacher.

Sounds like it may be life imitating art, too. In a new interview with InStyle, wife Katie Holmes described Cruise's rugged manliness.

"Two years ago he took me up on his P-51 Mustang, a fighter plane from World War II. He painted the words, 'Kiss Me, Kate' on the side," she said (via People). "It feels like you're on a bike in the sky. I thought, I'm either going to spend this whole flight totally freaked out or realize this is pretty thrilling."

The name's Cruise. Tom Cruise. For more, click over to Deadline. And, check out the trailer for his next film, "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" here.

Comments

[Abatis]

08:14 AM on 09/02/2011

This is just heartbreaking. I've also read all the Reacher books and am in total shock by this decision. It's true I hate Tom Cruise for what he's become but his acting has nothing to do with my stomach being upside down as I type. This will completely ruin the mental image for me and every other Reacher fan. Whoever made this call should be cast out of show business forever. I can't imagine the avalanche of mail Child is going to receive over this. Poor guy. Should have fought for some creative control.

[DogDeer]

04:49 PM on 08/22/2011

I've read every Jack Reacher novel and this is just about the most INSANE thing I've heard. Tom Cruise as Reacher? What has he been smoking. Oh, right...his ego. I forgot. Heaven help us.

[Hamish McGregor]

07:21 AM on 08/18/2011

Tom Cruise IS NOT JACK REACHER and NEVER WILL BE...
Won't be watching this one.
Get someone real.

[Christine Cody]

07:03 PM on 08/13/2011

Oh, no!! This is the absolute worst casting imaginable. How can they even consider this? Why would Cruise be so foolish to take on this role? Has he not read the description of Jack Reacher? Even if they work some movie magic and make him look as big as Reacher, he will look ridiculous. Please tell me this isn't a done deal. What was Lee Child thinking?? This will ruin the series for many readers. It certainly won't enhance it.

[Rich Cash]

09:42 AM on 08/10/2011

When I heard Tom Cruise had been cast to play Jack Reacher my jaw hit the ground....What a bone headed mistake. Too bad Tom Selleck isn't 25 years younger, he would have been a perfect pick.

[iwantthetruth27]

11:29 AM on 08/10/2011

Despite the accent, and being a little shorter than 6'5", I think Jason Statham would make a great Reacher. He has shown the same type of personality in other characters he's played.

[Rich Cash]

09:44 PM on 08/12/2011

Yeah, with some voice coaching, he'd be fine
.

[Lulu Powers]

04:27 PM on 08/03/2011

Oh no! Say it ain't so! I'd be laughing if I didn't want to cry. My husband and I have read and re-read every Reacher book, and have debated who should play Reacher if they ever did a movie. Tom Cruise's name NEVER came up. It's laughable. If they insist on this farce, Child should have the Reacher books edited before publication to remove reference to Reacher's size, height, weight, and sheer physicality. Why not cast Zach Galifiankas, Steve Carrell or ... no, even better, Sylvester Stalone?! Makes as much sense as casting Cruise. Sheesh.

[manntxs]

08:22 AM on 07/19/2011

"Cruise has signed on to play Jack Reacher in a big screen adaptation of Lee Child's hit action novel, "One Shot." A tough guy ex-army cop -- described as six foot five in Child's nine book series -"

I am certain that I am not the only one who noticed that the character as written was 6'5" and the actor to portray him is more like 5'6". But rather than search the comments to hit a fav....lol

I have little respect to Tom Cruise. And no, I didn't write 'little' consciously. lol

[Sheree Guy Sawyer]

10:52 PM on 07/18/2011

Why would anyone who ever read these novels ever think of Tom Cruise???
Dwayne Johnson,Vin Diesel, Michael Statham, there are any number of alpha males who would be a better fit than Tom!!! WTH were they thinking????

[lalane4]

08:29 PM on 07/18/2011

NO! NO! NO! Read these novels!! Not even in the wildest imagination does Cruise does slightly resemble the description of Reacher. Give us someone who looks like a hero!! These books are great reads this casting will ruin the image.

[rexeccoach]

08:13 PM on 07/18/2011

Why all the vitriol regarding Cruise? He may not be properly cast in this particular role, but he has provided reasonably good acting for a number of years even if he is not AA level. Scientology appears to me to be a strange organization. His sexual orientation has no relevance to his ability to act.

[Jacques Steen]

07:11 PM on 07/30/2011

He's a LIAR and a member of a CULT of DEATH that specializes in LIES.

Kinda hard to support an actor that you can't believe in the role of his own laughable "life."

[Moiramyone]

01:24 PM on 07/18/2011

Nooooooooo!!!!! No way! Are they going to have to build elevated landings for Cruise to walk on on the set, or ditches for all of the other actors? Lee, how could you let this happen?

[Cimms]

01:10 PM on 07/18/2011

Many Women? Please, if I had the access Mr. Cruise had and was not married, Wilt's record would have been broken 10 years ago.

[lipstickpig]

12:39 PM on 07/18/2011

Gay Gay GAy and a frickin Scientologist-
Yuck

[miller2900]

11:53 PM on 07/18/2011

.......hey lips, I'm guessing you are a gay male and have had sex with Cruise (or watched him) to make such statement.

[lipstickpig]

01:39 PM on 07/19/2011

Well Yes I have-We won a Emmy too !

[PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS]

12:07 PM on 07/18/2011

Think he may want to consider the role of a magician in his next film. Because he has mastered a great trick...........

Being photographed thousands of times with a beard, yet never having any facial hair......................... :p

[Nona Martin Stuck]

11:57 AM on 07/18/2011

This is another pitiful attempt to suggest that Tom Cruise has any interest at all in women. Would that he had the courage of his convictions, as do other very successful gay men and women in the entertainment industry. The posturing only serves to make him seem cowardly and pathetic.