It’s a no brainer. If a stand-alone film does well it will likely become a franchise, especially if that stand-alone film is already based on part of a pre-existing book series. Paramount has just that with Jack Reacher, the throwback action thriller starring Tom Cruise, due for a release at the end of the year and based on a series by Lee Child. To no surprise, a few months before release, Paramount has indicated interest in churning out sequels.
During an investor meeting Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman told his group that he’s “hoping to create new franchise” based on these novels in an effort to focus on “existing franchises, developing new franchises, and developing our brands.” The word comes from Deadline, who also let us know he stated the known obvious, that more Jack Ryan, Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will be coming.
With over a dozen books from Child, there’s a lot of material to grab from but the question lies in if Reacher will succeed in a packed winter. With The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Zero Dark Thirty, This Is 40, Django Unchained, Les Miserables and many more, hopefully Cruise can find a way to rise to the top. Paramount had a lackluster summer, after moving their major summer blockbuster G.I. Joe 2 and all their problems with World War Z (which was supposed to be their winter tentpole), so they could certainly use the success.
With Christopher McQuarrie‘s cast including Rosamund Pike, Jai Courtney, Robert Duvall and Werner Herzog, Jack Reacher arrives on December 21st, 2012.
Would you like to see more Jack Reacher?