With the mainline show back with both stars in tow, Maria Sten and Alan Ritchson are addressing the chances of the latter’s character appearing in theReacherspinoff,Neagley. Development on the spinoff to the Lee Child-based show was first announced in late 2024 with mainline showrunner Nick Santora and Nicholas Wootton co-creating and co-showrunning the title, while Sten would lead as Neagley embarks on an investigation into the death of an old friend. While the rest oftheNeagleycastincludes various newcomers for the show’s universe, including Greyston Holt, Ritchson’s involvement has not yet been confirmed.
In honor of the show’s return,Forbesspoke with Maria Sten and Alan Ritchson to discussReacherseason 3. The conversation eventually turned toNeagley, and when they were asked about the chances of Ritchson’s Jack Reacher appearing in the upcoming spinoff show,the duo were very coy about the possibility of the mainline show’s hero popping up, with the former stating they could “neither confirm nor deny such rumors”, while the latter said it “would make sense”. Check out what Sten and Ritchson said below:
Alan Ritchson: That would make sense, but we cannot confirm that it would make sense. It just makes sense in a world of hypotheticals.
Maria Sten: Yes, we can neither confirm nor deny such rumors. Like if he popped in for a couple of episodes.
Ritchson: But it could happen.
What Ritchson & Sten’s Comments Mean For Reacher’s Appearance In Neagley’s Show
Their Coy Comments & Close Relationship May Be Enough Evidence
Ritchson and Sten playing things closer to the chest about Reacher appearing in theNeagleyshow comes as an interesting change from the early reports of the show’s development,in which it was stated that Ritchson’s character would appear in multiple episodes in a guest star role. Considering the spinoff marks the biggest diversion from Child’s source material yet, in that no such spinoff book exists, it would make sense for those involved to keep things as under wraps as possible to keep the audience in suspense.
That being said, it does seem unlikely thatNeagleywouldn’t feature Ritchson in some kind of capacity. Sten’s character has been one of the closest allies to Reacher across all three seasons,even as he’s changed locations and the show’s adapted books in which she’s not involved in their plotsthe wayReachershows her to be. Given the early logline for the show also indicates that it will follow Neagley as she looks to utilize the lessons learned from Ritchson’s protagonist for her new case, the spinoff could limit his appearance to inspiration-driven conversations between the two.
What Neagley’s Job Is In Reacher Season 3
Reacher season 3 may not have explicitly mentioned what Neagley does for a living, but the show’s season 2 seems to have already answered the question
Another potential reason for Ritchson to appear inNeagleywould be to set up thealready confirmedReacherseason 4. Fellow Prime Video franchise,The Boys, similarly utilized its first major spinoff inGen Vto not only tell a standalone story apart from the mainline show, but also lay out plot threads that would affect the future of its entire universe, namely the creation of the Supe-killing virus. Though bothReacher’s novels and showare generally standalone stories, the few changes made for the show would subsequently explain utilizing the spinoff for future setups.
Our Take On Reacher’s Potential Appearance In The Neagley Spinoff
He Should Be Seen Sparingly & Used Purposefully
As great as their relationship is to watch in the mainline show, I do think it’s probably for the best that Ritchson’s Reacher doesn’t have too big of a role inNeagley. The goal of a spinoff is to allow someone else the chance to shine in the spotlight other than the base character, and considering how much backstory there is to explore for Sten’s character, it would be the better call for the show to keep the focus on her. That said, it doesn’t mean there isn’t room for Reacher to appear, as long as he’s used in a fitting fashion.
Reacher
Cast
Reacher follows Jack Reacher, a former military police investigator, as he navigates civilian life. Without a phone and carrying minimal belongings, Reacher drifts across the country, experiencing the nation he once served, and encounters intriguing challenges along the way.
