The TV Addict 

Having just plowed my way through the most recent entry, (“Bad Luck and Trouble”) in the always exciting, addictive and best-selling Jack Reacher thriller series by Lee Child, I found myself yet again perplexed why Hollywood – buying book rights without thought lately – hasn’t gotten around to adapting any of the novels. After all, the series is perfect fodder for an exciting film franchise, not only because all the novels are completely engrossing and have a great central character, but also because they’re all stand-alone adventures. So even if Hollywood isn’t there yet, I thought I might do some of their work for them in advance, and throw in some suggestions for people who could star as the stoic hero.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Though I think his military type role in DOOM kind of proves he can’t do this kind of part (though that may have been more the fault of the script), and he seems too interested in being a goof-ball these days, I don’t think there’s any denying physically he could play the character quite well.

Bruce Willis
The reason I suggest Willis is not only because of his physical build/appearance, or his established acting chops, but also because we know he can do this character-type (see DIE HARD, TEARS OF THE SUN). That may be the problem though. It’s a role so closely associated with Willis (or at least universally acknowledged as his brand of action) that it would probably end up giving us the sense of “been there, done that,” which might very well kill any potential franchise right there.

Dominic Purcell
Dude isn’t a great actor necessarily, and doesn’t always have the best choices in films, but just watch any scene of “Prison Break” with him in it, and you’ll see he’s a pretty dead physical ringer for Jack Reacher. Also, even though he’s thirty-eight, there’s a certain world-weariness etched into his face and eyes that would also make him ideal for the part. Just too bad he doesn’t have the emotional range that should go along with that.

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Dear Mr. Johnson (or Mr. Rock, whichever you prefer),

Though I sometimes get teased for it, I’ve long been an enjoyer of your work. Yes, even including THE SCORPION KING, but not so much the WWE stuff (not my thing). I find you to be a charming son-of-a-gun, and find that you have a very natural screen presence that makes watching you up there always an enjoyable experience. In fact, your presence has saved otherwise mediocre films such as WALKING TALL, DOOM, BE COOL, and, well, SCORPION KING, and left me still saying, “Heck, I was entertained!”
Given your build and ability to carry a good quip (a la Schwarzenegger who famously passed the torch to you in THE RUNDOWN) you are naturally well-suited for action films/buddy pictures. However, it seems ever since you proved your comedic chops and willingness to make fun of yourself by prancing around as a flamboyantly gay man in BE COOL (and frankly, you were the only good thing about that film), all you want to do is comedies. Don’t get me wrong, you’re a funny guy, but it’d be nice to get more out of you than just GET SMART and PLANET 51.

Even worse, it seems like you’re also going the Eddie Murphy/Tim Allen route and starting to make too mainly family friendly movies. Though THE GAME PLAN was cute, you’ve got another Disney remake in the works (RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN), and it was just announced that you’re starring in a film called THE TOOTH FAIRY where you will apparently play a guy who has to save the tooth fairy kingdom. I mean, really? You used to fake beating up people for a living! I understand wanting a career or image change, but this is a bit much.

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