Joe Manganiello is revealing that he nearly landed the lead role in Reacher, and his team wondered if Tom Cruise had something to do with him losing the part.
The 49-year-old actor opened up about his experience being considered for the lead role in the Prime Video series in his new memoir Bloodlines, released on Tuesday (October 13).
According to Page Six, Joe says several people involved in the production wanted him to play the title character, but the role ultimately went to Alan Ritchson.
In the book, Joe recalls meeting with Skydance Media executive Don Granger in January 2020 to discuss the role.
Don reportedly told him that he was the closest thing to the character he had ever met, noting that he matched the physical description of Jack Reacher from Lee Child‘s books.
“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,” Joe recalls Don telling him.
Joe claims that showrunner Nick Santora was also impressed and began developing the series with him in mind. He says David Ellison and Lee Child were supportive of his potential casting as well.
However, things reportedly changed when the decision reached then-Amazon executive Jennifer Salke.
According to Joe‘s account, Jennifer was upset about being excluded from the casting process and felt that a group of mostly male producers had made the decision without her involvement.
After another screen test, Joe learned that he would not be getting the role.
Why Joe Manganiello’s Team Suspected Tom Cruise
Joe writes that his team wondered whether Tom Cruise, who previously played Jack Reacher in two movies, had influenced the casting decision.
The speculation was connected to Sofia Vergara, who was married to Joe at the time and reportedly dated Tom briefly in 2005.
His team wondered if Tom could have stepped in and opposed the casting because of his history with Sofia, according to Page Six.
According to the book, Joe‘s team speculated that Tom, whom he described as “an executive producer [on the show],” could have “potentially come in over the top and vetoed my being cast on account of Sofía.”
However, there is no publicly established evidence that Tom interfered with the casting decision, and he is not listed among the show’s publicly credited executive producers.
The role ultimately went to Alan Ritchson, who has starred in the series since its 2022 premiere.
Joe‘s revelation comes amid the release of Bloodlines, which also includes new details about his health struggles and his former marriage.
Earlier this week, Joe responded to comments made by Sofia and her son following revelations from his memoir.
If you missed it, find out why Joe decided to share details about his marriage in his new book.
The post Joe Manganiello Reveals His Team Suspected Tom Cruise Blocked Him From ‘Reacher’ Role Over Sofia Vergara appeared first on Just Jared – Celebrity News, Entertainment News & Photos.
