Lee Child's Reacher Spinoff Idea Is Good, But Amazon Has A Better Option

Published Oct 25, 2026, 2:15 PM EDT Dhruv is a Lead Writer in Screen Rant's New TV division. He has been consistently contributing to the website for over two years and has written thousands of articles covering streaming trends, movie/TV analysis, and pop culture breakdowns. Before Screen Rant, he was a Senior Writer for The Cinemaholic, covering everything from anime to television, from reality TV to movies. After high school, he was on his way to become a Civil Engineer. However, he soon realized that writing was his true calling. As a result, he took a leap and never looked back. Sign in to your ScreenRant account For decades, Reacher single-handedly carried the entire Lee Child franchise. Nothing changed when the Jack Reacher books were picked for movie adaptations as both films featured Tom Cruise as the titular lead. For three whole seasons, Prime Video's Reacher, too, played it safe and followed the same path by having Alan Ritchson's Jack Reacher as its solo lead. However, in 2026, Prime Video finally took a leap and gave the franchise a new branch with its Neagley spin-off show. Although many viewers were initially skeptical about the spin-off series, it did not disappoint. Lee Child himself is all set to continue this spin-off direction with his upcoming Neagley-centered book, Zero Margin. Andrew and Lee Child's latest Jack Reacher novel, Exit Strategy, continues to focus on the titular larger-than-life character. However, it also marks the return of a recurring female lead from the Reacher universe: Susan Turner. According to Lee Child, Susan Turner, too, deserves her own spin-off like Neagley if Prime Video wishes to further expand the franchise. While it is understandable where Lee Child comes from, another character from Reacher seems to be a better choice for a spin-off series. David O'Donnell Needs A Reacher Spinoff From the beginning itself, Reacher season 2 established David O'Donnell as the perfect Jack Reacher anti-thesis. While Reacher embraces the open road and refuses to compromise on his freedom, O'Donnell is portrayed as a responsible family man. This stark difference between the two characters gives them the perfect "buddy cop" dynamic where they keep poking fun at each other. A spin-off centering on David O'Donnell could continue the same dynamic by also featuring Reacher as a secondary lead. This would bring some much-needed levity to the franchise's otherwise serious drama. Unlike Jack Reacher, David also has to balance his family life with his investigative endeavors. Keeping his family far away from the criminals he deals with is another major challenge he faces. Since his conflicts are significantly different from the ones Reacher faces, his spin-off would bring something new to the franchise. Reacher is appealing because he is such an intimidating and overpowered figure. However, the same elements make him less relatable. O'Donnell, on the other hand, is a regular "Everyman" during the day when he focuses on his responsibilities as a father and husband. He only brings out his brutal side and puts his military prowess on full display only when he faces bad guys. His spin-off show could portray him as a suburban father/husband by day and a lethal investigator by night. As fascinating as an O'Donnell spin-off may sound, however, it seems unlikely it will ever happen. He only appears in one book (Bad Luck and Trouble) and one season of the show, making him far less prominent of a character than Neagley. Lee Child's Susan Turner Spinoff Idea Could Still Work Considering how Susan Turner is one of the few recurring characters in the original books like Neagley, her spin-off, too, would make sense. However, before giving her a separate spin-off, the Prime Video franchise will have to properly introduce her. Susan Turner served as the secondary lead in Tom Cruise's second Jack Reacher movie, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back. In season 3, Prime Video's Reacher also drew a subtle reference to her. There is a scene where Alan Ritchson's Reacher contacts the 110th MP Special Investigations Unit's office to get in touch with the commanding officer, Susan Turner. "I'm calling in that favor she owes me," he says, which seems to be a direct reference to Never Go Back's story. Leveraging this development, Reacher's future seasons could introduce her as a Neagley replacement and gradually pave the way for her own spin-off. Till then, though, fans of the franchise can wait for Reacher and Neagley's future seasons and Lee Child's upcoming books. Reacher Release Date February 3, 2022 Without a phone and traveling light, former military police officer Jack Reacher drifts between American towns, embroiling himself in local crimes and bringing justice in his wake. Based on the series of novels by Lee Child, Reacher's journey offers him an intimate understanding of the nation he once served. Network Prime Video Cast Alan Ritchson, Maria Sten, Malcolm Goodwin, Willa Fitzgerald, Serinda Swan, Chris Webster, Shaun Sipos, Bruce McGill, Ferdinand Kingsley, Robert Patrick, JD Smith, Kelsey Falconer, Lee Villeneuve, Eli Ham, Emeka Agada, Hazel Gorin, Nathaniel McParland, Connor Laidman, Darrin Maharaj, Drew Moss, Peter Skagen, Rohan Mead, Kaz Morgan, Zachary Gallegos, Scott Barker Showrunner Nick Santora Directors Sam Hill, Gary Fleder, Omar Madha, Carol Banker, Julian Holmes, Lin Oeding, M.J. Bassett, Norberto Barba, Stephen Surjik, Thomas Vincent Writers Nick Santora, Cait Duffy, Michael J. Gutierrez, Lillian L Wang, Scott Sullivan, Nora Jobling Franchise(s) Jack Reacher Main Genre Action Creator(s) Nick Santora Executive Producer(s) Nick Santora, Lee Child, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Marcy Ross, Scott Sullivan, Paula Wagner, Matt Thunell, Bill Bost, Mick Betancourt, Adam Higgs, Christopher McQuarrie, Alan Ritchson, Thomas Vincent, Seth Cohen, Carolyn Harris, Kenny Madrid, Amy Pocha Producers Penny Cox, Agatha Warren, Aadrita Mukerji, Derek Rappaport Seasons 4 Story By nick santora Streaming Service(s) Prime Video Where To Watch Prime Video