Lee Child’s badasss protagonist Jack Reacher just took another step towards the big screen.
Paramount has signed screenwriter Josh Olsen to adapt the Reacher novel One Shot.
“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.
A lone gunman hides in a parking garage and shoots into a crowd in a public plaza in a small Indiana city. Five random people die in a senseless massacre. The shooter leaves a perfect trail behind him and the police quickly track him down. His name is James Barr. It’s a watertight case. After his arrest, James Barr refuses to talk. Then, to his lawyer, he utters a single phrase: “Get Jack Reacher for me.” But Reacher’s already on his way. What could connect this obvious psychopath with our wandering ex-army cop?
By the time Reacher hits town, Barr’s been beaten badly enough to forget everything about the day in question. So Reacher begins to piece together the wealth of evidence; he does the math and comes to a few conclusions of his own.”
Olson was nominated for an Oscar for his script for A History of Violence, a film that rocked my world. He also wrote one of the stories for the very cool Gotham Knight.
Olson is also adapting Dennis Lehane’s short story Until Gwen for the silver screen.
If Olson can do half as good a job, Jack Reacher may well be Hollywood’s next franchise hero.
One Shot was previously acquired by Wagner/Cruise productions. Paula has since split from Cruise and there is some question as to whether or not he will still be producing.
I have never read Child, but loved AHoV.
I will have to pick up one of the novels. Do you have to read them in order?
Not necessarily. There are a few plot points that are revealed chronologically but as a whole you can read this series out of order.
They are INCREDIBLE! Child's protagonist Jack Reacher is the best fictional hero I have ever read. The story lines are engaging and exciting and you'll be hooked whichever book you read first, guarantee it.
Killing Floor is the best and the first. Read that one first.
I have read several of Child's Reacher novels. They are all extremely well written. Reacher is calm in the face of danger, self-confident, and very resourceful. I'd love to see him brought to the big screen. With the right budget, He could very well be the next American hero. And if One Shot is a success, there are plenty of other stories that could feasibly be transfered to screen. My only question is: who would play him?
If u like Jack Reacher, u will LOVE Lucas Davenport!! Dave in NH.