Lee Child has said Tom Cruise was “completely and utterly wrong” to play Jack Reacher because he did not match the character’s imposing physical description. However, Child believes Cruise successfully captured Reacher’s quiet, controlled and intimidating personality, meaning the casting mismatch was mainly visual rather than a failure of acting.

The novels portray Reacher as 6ft 5in and 250lb, creating a stark contrast with Cruise’s considerably smaller stature. Child recalled a scene in which Reacher is described as capable of killing someone with one blow before Cruise appears, highlighting the disconnect. Despite this, Child praised Cruise personally and said working with him was a pleasure; the latest Reacher novel, Chain Reaction, is due on 20 October.