Alan Ritchson, star and producer of Prime Video's Reacher series, has disclosed that a planned television adaptation of Lee Child's novel Die Trying was approved but subsequently cancelled following a political election. Ritchson, who has been publicly critical of Donald Trump, suggested that the reversal was connected to Trump's recent re-election, though he did not name him explicitly. The cancellation is significant as it reveals how political considerations may influence entertainment production decisions at major studios.

Die Trying, the second book in Child's series, centres on Jack Reacher's involvement with a politician's daughter who is abducted by a radical militia seeking to establish a white-only state. Ritchson has previously expressed strong criticism of Trump, particularly regarding the Epstein files released by the Trump administration. Season five of Reacher has already been renewed and will instead adapt Child's 12th novel, Make Me, with no details provided about which season was initially approved for the Die Trying adaptation.