Like it or not, Jack Reacher 2 is on its way, and now it has an official release date and title.
Instead of Jack Reacher 2, the Tom Cruise sequel will be titled Jack Reacher: Never Go Back. This clumsy title comes from the 18th Lee Child Jack Reacher novel, according to the report over at Collider. It will hit theaters October 16, 2016.
It’s unclear whether or not Never Go Back will follow the story of Child’s novel, but here is a synopsis of the story:
Former military cop Jack Reacher makes it all the way from snowbound South Dakota to his destination in northeastern Virginia, near Washington, D.C.: the headquarters of his old unit, the 110th MP. The old stone building is the closest thing to a home he ever had. Reacher is there to meet-in person-the new commanding officer, Major Susan Turner, so far just a warm, intriguing voice on the phone. But it isn’t Turner behind the CO’s desk. And Reacher is hit with two pieces of shocking news, one with serious criminal consequences, and one too personal to even think about. When threatened, you can run or fight. Reacher fights, aiming to find Turner and clear his name, barely a step ahead of the army, and the FBI, and the D.C. Metro police, and four unidentified thugs. Combining an intricate puzzle of a plot and an exciting chase for truth and justice, Lee Child puts Reacher through his paces-and makes him question who he is, what he’s done, and the very future of his untethered life on the open road.
Despite the lukewarm reception of the original, directed by Chris McQuarrie, Jack Reacher was a decidedly unique, unusual action/thriller. The opening scene was disturbing and perhaps a little too heavy for such a throwaway flick, but the car chase which anchors the action is stellar. McQuarrie, a fine director and the one in charge of Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, is no longer on board, replaced by Ed Zwick who previously worked with Cruise on The Last Samurai. It’s also notable as Cruise’s only other sequel outside of the M:I franchise (hoping Top Gun 2 doesn’t come to fruition).
Jack Reacher has the potential to be an interesting franchise, maybe three or four films overall, and if different filmmakers can take the character in different, interesting directions, there’s plenty to be excited about going forward.
