# Here’s what I think of casting Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-s-what-i-think-of-casting-tom-cruise-as-jack-reacher/1027876
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Tags:** movies
**Created:** [February 21, 2026, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-s-what-i-think-of-casting-tom-cruise-as-jack-reacher/1027876 "2026-02-21T15:43:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@hideousidiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hideousidiot)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2026, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-s-what-i-think-of-casting-tom-cruise-as-jack-reacher/1027876/1 "2026-02-21T15:43:47Z")
If they would have cast the tiny (5’7”?) Cruise as the gigantic Jack Reacher but cast all the other parts with very short actors (except the actors who played in scenes without Cruise in them, like the shooting victims, and the assassin, and maybe the actors who were seated or shot in closeup, or who could be filmed in shots where they didn’t share the screen), I think it would have been hilarious, and added to Cruise’s resume.
Of course they would have had to construct a number of sets that were way smaller than usual, but so what? They have to build some sets from scratch for every film anyway—what difference if this movie’s sets had doors that were only five and a half feet high so Cruise had to duck every time he entered or left through a doorway.
I would have enjoyed seeing such a spectacle and marveling over the technical problems the film overcame just to make Cruise look like a giant.
Apart from casting short actors, or shooting around the tall ones, and building a few tiny sets, is there a problem here I’m not thinking of? Would Cruise’s ego be bruised, or do you think he would have enjoyed it?
---
### Author:  [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2026, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-s-what-i-think-of-casting-tom-cruise-as-jack-reacher/1027876/2 "2026-02-21T15:55:24Z")
Problems this trivial have long since been solved by movie makers.
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/cv8fLpEI64c/maxresdefault.jpg "Monty Python "Scott Of The Antarctic"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv8fLpEI64c)
---
### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2026, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-s-what-i-think-of-casting-tom-cruise-as-jack-reacher/1027876/3 "2026-02-21T16:17:38Z")
You go with Cruise’s actual size thusly:
Cruise as Reacher, Jr.
A petite, tough actress like Jeannette Goldstein (Vasquez
_Aliens_) as Mom Reacher.
Elder Reacher is dead (final heroic act) Appears in photos and flashbacks, portrayed by Dolph Lundgren.
---
### Author:  [@hideousidiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hideousidiot)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2026, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-s-what-i-think-of-casting-tom-cruise-as-jack-reacher/1027876/4 "2026-02-21T16:19:06Z")
OK, but how would Cruise have responded to his small stature being highlighted like this? I think the spectacle would have increased box office considerably. I certainly would have bought a ticket to see Cruise playing a giant–the idea of searching out the various gimmicks used to create that effect alone would have gotten me into a theater.
---
### Author:  [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2026, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-s-what-i-think-of-casting-tom-cruise-as-jack-reacher/1027876/5 "2026-02-21T20:29:40Z")
It’s too bad Jason Momoa wasn’t famous when they were casting Reacher. He’s one of the few actors with the height and width for the character. Jack Reacher is supposed to be a bit scary and intimidating. Cruise is a decent actor, but he’s no Khal Drogo.
---
### Author:  [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2026, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-s-what-i-think-of-casting-tom-cruise-as-jack-reacher/1027876/6 "2026-02-21T20:53:27Z")
> [@hideousidiot](#):
>
> Would Cruise’s ego be bruised, or do you think he would have enjoyed it?
I think Cruise wouldn’t care much, he’s laughing all the way to the bank.
‘Tiny’, at 5’ 7” though? A bit below average but not at all uncommon.
---
### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2026, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-s-what-i-think-of-casting-tom-cruise-as-jack-reacher/1027876/7 "2026-02-21T20:57:52Z")
The films were Okay, just assume it is another guy with the same name.
---
### Author:  [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2026, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-s-what-i-think-of-casting-tom-cruise-as-jack-reacher/1027876/8 "2026-02-21T21:50:01Z")
I may not be as big as Jack, but I have been asked to reach something on a high shelves in stores. 🙂 Tom would be tiny standing next to me.
I think ti would have been interesting to cast it thusly. It might make it more of a “joke”, though, and you really don’t want that. But it would be fun. But making Reacher short goes against the defining characteristic of the character. He doesn’t have to fight all the time, because he’s scary big. You want a short action here? Call him Ethan Hunt and move on. Worked great!
Despite how shot Tom might be in real life, I think he’s a great lead.
---
### Author:  [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2026, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-s-what-i-think-of-casting-tom-cruise-as-jack-reacher/1027876/9 "2026-02-21T22:12:08Z")
> [@running\_coach](#):
>
> Elder Reacher is dead (final heroic act) Appears in photos and flashbacks, portrayed by Dolph Lundgren
Funnily enough, I always pictured Reacher as a bit of a grizzled Lundgren when I used to read the novels. He’d have been perfect, physically, for the role if the films (or TV series) had run at the same time (or rather, just after) that the books had been published. Perhaps not quite got the acting chops, although it’s not exactly Shakespeare.
---
### Author:  [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2026, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-s-what-i-think-of-casting-tom-cruise-as-jack-reacher/1027876/10 "2026-02-21T22:20:19Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#):
>
> I think Cruise wouldn’t care much, he’s laughing all the way to the bank.
Let’s face it: he has money, he throws it at women shorter than himself, and he pretends that this is what makes him such a ‘heart throb’ among women.
“Hey Moe… what’s a heart throb…?”
“It’s a pain in the neck. \ \ \ “
---
### Author:  [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2026, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-s-what-i-think-of-casting-tom-cruise-as-jack-reacher/1027876/11 "2026-02-22T01:03:06Z")
The OP’s thoughts bring to mind Gary Oldman’s greatest achievement:
[Tiptoes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3qGGk5ymQ4&t=0s)
---
### Author:  [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2026, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-s-what-i-think-of-casting-tom-cruise-as-jack-reacher/1027876/12 "2026-02-22T01:07:19Z")
Alright, I’ll buy a ticket to see a movie where it’s Tom Cruise running around a miniatures village stomping buildings into dust like Godzilla
---
### Author:  [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2026, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-s-what-i-think-of-casting-tom-cruise-as-jack-reacher/1027876/13 "2026-02-22T01:14:06Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#):
>
> The OP’s thoughts bring to mind Gary Oldman’s greatest achievement:
Watching that movie was like watching a trainwreck. I could not believe someone actually made it.
---
### Author:  [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2026, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-s-what-i-think-of-casting-tom-cruise-as-jack-reacher/1027876/14 "2026-02-22T12:59:14Z")
I wonder how many typical Cruise movie attendees are even aware that the character is from a book series.
---
### Author:  [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2026, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-s-what-i-think-of-casting-tom-cruise-as-jack-reacher/1027876/15 "2026-02-22T13:08:59Z")
It seems to me that if they can make normal sized actors look like hobbits for LOTR, then they should be able to make a hobbit sized actor look huge for Reacher.
---
### Author:  [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2026, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-s-what-i-think-of-casting-tom-cruise-as-jack-reacher/1027876/16 "2026-02-22T14:39:18Z")
Jack Reacher is not just tall, but muscular!
The [TV series](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9288030/) (highly recommended 🕶 ) featured Alan Richardson - a jolly suitable actor.
I think Cruise is excellent in action films, but I’d much rather he directed or produced the Reacher series.
---
### Author:  [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2026, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-s-what-i-think-of-casting-tom-cruise-as-jack-reacher/1027876/17 "2026-02-22T16:27:11Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#):
>
> I may not be as big as Jack, but I have been asked to reach something on a high shelves in stores. 🙂
Ah, you’re JAQ Reacher…
---
### Author:  [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2026, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-s-what-i-think-of-casting-tom-cruise-as-jack-reacher/1027876/18 "2026-02-22T16:55:13Z")
> [@Folly](#):
>
> Ah, you’re JAQ Reacher.
Ok that’s pretty good!
---
### Author:  [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2026, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-s-what-i-think-of-casting-tom-cruise-as-jack-reacher/1027876/19 "2026-02-22T18:44:52Z")
> [@hideousidiot](#):
>
> If they would have cast the tiny (5’7”?) Cruise as the gigantic Jack Reacher but cast all the other parts with very short actors
That was what they did with Lucy Lawless in _Xenia: Warrior Princess_
---
### Author:  [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2026, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-s-what-i-think-of-casting-tom-cruise-as-jack-reacher/1027876/20 "2026-02-22T19:00:27Z")
> [@hideousidiot](#):
>
> tiny (5’7”?) Cruise
As a 5’7” fellow myself, I find the ‘tiny’ description a bit off. Even in the US, the average male height is apparently only about 5’ 9”. Though I must admit that when I was working in the Netherlands years ago, they all seemed to tower above me…
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-s-what-i-think-of-casting-tom-cruise-as-jack-reacher/1027876.md?page=2)