Entertainment · Celebrity · 3 hrs ago
Joe Manganiello says his team suspected Tom Cruise affected Reacher casting
Joe Manganiello says he auditioned for the lead role in Amazon’s Reacher, based on Lee Child’s books.
The role went to Alan Ritchson.
In his memoir, Manganiello says people involved in the production had praised his fit for the character, who is described in the books as 6 feet 5 inches tall.
He also says Amazon executive Jen Salke was unhappy that she had been left out of the casting process.
After Manganiello did not get the role, his team speculated that Tom Cruise may have intervened because he had dated Manganiello’s then-wife, Sofía Vergara.
Cruise played Reacher in two films, but he is not listed as part of the TV show’s production on IMDb.
Cruise’s representatives did not respond to a request for comment.
Joe Manganiello says his team suspected Tom Cruise may have affected his chances of playing Jack Reacher in Amazon’s series.
Manganiello recounts the casting process in his memoir, “Bloodlines.”
He says executives and producers initially supported him for the role, which ultimately went to Alan Ritchson.
Manganiello’s team speculated that Cruise may have intervened because of Cruise’s past relationship with Sofía Vergara, who was married to Manganiello at the time.
Page Six reported that Cruise’s representatives did not respond to its request for comment.
- Who
- Joe Manganiello says his team suspected Tom Cruise may have influenced the casting. Alan Ritchson was cast as Reacher.
- What
- Manganiello says his team thought Cruise may have vetoed him for the role in Amazon’s “Reacher.
- When
- Manganiello says he met with Don Granger in January 2020. Page Six published its report on October 12, 2026.
- Where
- The role was for Amazon’s “Reacher” series. The reported meeting took place with Don Granger at Skydance Media.
- Why
- Manganiello’s team speculated Cruise may have intervened because Cruise had dated Sofía Vergara, Manganiello’s then-wife.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Manganiello says he met with Skydance Media executive Don Granger to discuss the role and the backlash over Tom Cruise’s height.
Manganiello says showrunner Nick Santora began writing the rest of the season with him in mind.
The role went to Alan Ritchson rather than Manganiello.
- Memoir
- Bloodlines
- Series
- Amazon’s “Reacher
- Casting decision
- Alan Ritchson got the role
- Meeting
- Manganiello says he met Don Granger in January 2020
- Height in books
- Reacher is described as 6-foot-5
What people are saying
You are the closest thing to Jack Reacher that I’ve ever met in my entire life . . . You look like Reacher is described in the books . . . You have his effortless intelligence.
Sources
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