The second film in the Tom Cruise-led Jack Reacher series is officially underway, with principal photography beginning this week in New Orleans. The film also received an official title: Jack Reacher: Never Go Back.
Jack Reacher is based on the book series by author Lee Child. The first entry, released in 2012, went on to gross $218.3 million worldwide on a $60 million budget. This put the film in profitability and allowed the studio to get the ball rolling on a possible sequel. The second entry will be based on the 18th novel by Lee Child, focusing on a murder investigation of which Reacher is the suspected killer.
With director Christopher McQuarrie opting not to return for the sequel, Edward Zwick took the reins as new director. Zwick has previously worked with Tom Cruise on The Last Samurai, which was nominated for four Academy Awards. Richard Wenk and Marshall Herskovitz penned the script.
Robert Duvall, David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike also have not returned to reprise their roles from the first film. Newcomers to the series include Holt McCallany, Austin Halbert, Patrick Heusinger, Danika Yarosh, Aldis Hodge and How I Met Your Mother star Cobie Smulders. Cruise will serve as producer with Don Granger, David Ellison and Herb Gains. The film is being produced by Paramount Pictures and Skydance Productions.
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back is slated to be released October 21, 2016 – one year from today.