Before Reacher—10 Incredible Movies & Shows Featuring the Main Cast!

Willa Fitzgerald, Alan Ritchson, and Robert Patrick in Reacher.

The Reacher cast changes from season to season due to the nature of the show, but the series regulars are all talented actors, many of whom previously appeared in notable movies and TV series. Amazon Prime Video’s action crime show is based on Lee Child’s famous Jack Reacher books, with Alan Ritchson starring as the titular character. Each season of Reacher adapts one novel, following Jack Reacher’s adventures around the country as he moves from state to state, always crossing paths with some kind of villain. Consequently, the cast is ever-changing.

Reacher season 3 premieres on February 20, 2025, adapting Lee Child’s seventh Jack Reacher book — Persuader. New cast members include Anthony Michael Hall, Olivier Ritchers, Sonya Cassidy, Brian Tee, Johnny Berchtold, Robert Montesinos, and Daniel David Stewart.

Reacher debuted in early 2022 and was a critical and commercial success. Season 1 received rave reviews, and during the week of February 7, it became the first Amazon Prime Video original series to top Nielsen’s streaming rankings, with 1.589 billion minutes watched (per Variety). Almost two years later, Reacher season 2 premiered and achieved similar success. The third season will be released in 2025, and Amazon has already renewed Reacher for season 4, meaning the cast will continue to grow, and the show will have time to accomplish more feats.

10The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Alan Ritchson

Character poster for Gloss in Catching Fire Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen in Catching Fire ceasar flickman cashmere and gloss on stage in the hunger games catching fire Josh Hutcherson as Peeta in Catching Fire Katniss looking at career pack in Catching Fire Snow watching Katniss in Catching FireCharacter poster for Gloss in Catching Fire Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen in Catching Fire ceasar flickman cashmere and gloss on stage in the hunger games catching fire Josh Hutcherson as Peeta in Catching Fire Katniss looking at career pack in Catching Fire Snow watching Katniss in Catching Fire

Before getting cast in Reacher as the lead, Alan Ritchson was mostly known for his TV work. However, some might have recognized him as Gloss, the Third Quarter Quell’s District 1 male tribute, in The Hunger Games: Catching FireRitchson doesn’t have a significant role in the second Hunger Games movie, but the film is big enough to stand out on the actor’s resume. It grossed $865 million during its theatrical run, starting in November 2013. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is also regarded by many as the best movie in the popular dystopian franchise.

Ritchson’s Gloss is one of the 24 previous victors chosen to compete in the third Quarter Quell, aka the 75th Hunger Games, in Catching Fire. The Career tribute won the 63rd Hunger Games, while his sister, Cashmere, reigned victorious the next year. The two siblings were both chosen to compete in the third Quarter Quell, opposing District 12’s Katniss and Peeta, District 4’s Finnick and Mags, District 7’s Johanna, District 3’s Beetee and Wiress, and more in the arena during the second Hunger Games film.

9iZombie

Malcolm Goodwin

Malcolm Goodwin as clive in iZombie Two men and a woman stand together and look at something in iZombie. izombie grumpy old liv clive rose mciver malcolm goodwin izombie 20 sided die dungeons and dragons game liv rose mciver ravi rahul kohli major robert buckley clive malcolm goodwin peyton Aly Michalka Rose McIver and Malcolm Goodwin in iZombie Season 4
Malcolm Goodwin as clive in iZombie
Two men and a woman stand together and look at something in iZombie. izombie grumpy old liv clive rose mciver malcolm goodwin izombie 20 sided die dungeons and dragons game liv rose mciver ravi rahul kohli major robert buckley clive malcolm goodwin peyton Aly Michalka Rose McIver and Malcolm Goodwin in iZombie Season 4

Malcolm Goodwin is one of the original Reacher cast members, as he plays Oscar Finley (a captain in the Margrave Police Department and the chief of detectives) in the Amazon Prime Video show. However, before the action crime series premiered, Goodwin was a main cast member in iZombie on The CW. Throughout all five seasons of the 2015 supernatural procedural drama, the actor portrays Clive Babineaux, a detective with the Seattle Police Department.

Goodwin stars opposite Rose McIver, who plays Liv Moore, in iZombie. Liv was a medical resident before she died and became a zombie, resulting in her need to consume brains to maintain her humanity and avoid turning into a stereotypical, bloodthirsty zombie. So, Liv takes on the job of a medical examiner, allowing her to eat victims’ brains (which also gives her access to their memories, helping solve murders). Liv and Goodwin’s Clive work as a team in iZombie to close cases, making it the perfect detective show to watch for fans who miss Reacher.

8Smallville

Alan Ritchson, Kristin Kreuk, Serinda Swan, & Shaun Sipos

Aquaman in Smallville episode Alan Ritchson emerging from water Zatanna uses her magic with glowing eyes in Smallville Warrior Kristin Kreuk as Lana Lang in Smallville Cure looking offscreen Tom Welling as Clark Kent and Alan Ritchson as Aquaman in the Kent Farm on Smallville Serinda Swan as Zatanna in SmallvilleAquaman in Smallville episode Alan Ritchson emerging from water Zatanna uses her magic with glowing eyes in Smallville Warrior Kristin Kreuk as Lana Lang in Smallville Cure looking offscreen Tom Welling as Clark Kent and Alan Ritchson as Aquaman in the Kent Farm on Smallville Serinda Swan as Zatanna in Smallville

Before appearing in Reacher, many of the Amazon Prime Video show’s cast members worked on the superhero series SmallvilleAlan Ritchson had a recurring role as Arthur Curry/Aquaman; Kristin Kreuk (who had a supporting role as Charlie Hubble in Reacher season 1) stars as Lana Lang; Serinda Swan plays Zatanna Zatara; and Shaun Sipos briefly appears as Chloe’s Boy Thing in Smallville season 2.

Following Alan Ritchson’s debut as Arthur Curry in Smallville, The WB ordered an Aquaman pilot but recast the leading role. Instead of Ritchson, Justin Hartley (who plays Oliver Queen/Green Arrow in Smallville) accepted the role of Aquaman. However, the network didn’t go forward with the series.

Both Swan and Sipos joined the main cast of Reacher in season 2, playing Karla Dixon and David O’Donnell, respectively. As mentioned above, though, they, along with Ritchson and Kreuk, appeared in Smallville first. The WB’s superhero TV show tells the origin story of Clark Kent/Superman, exploring his life as a teenager in Smallville, Kansas before the series eventually graduates to Clark moving to Metropolis and working at the Daily PlanetSmallville produced 10 seasons and over 200 episodes, making it one of The WB/The CW’s longest-running shows.

7My Cousin Vinny

Bruce McGill

My Cousin Vinny is one of the most well-known movies from the 1990s, and it stars one of Reacher‘s main cast members. Vince McGill, who plays Mayor Grover Teale in season 1 of the action crime series, portrays Sheriff Dean Farley in the 1992 crime comedy film. In My Cousin Vinny, Bill Gambini and Stan Rothenstein, two young New Yorkers, are arrested in Alabama for a murder they didn’t commit. Since they don’t have much money, Bill and Stan resort to hiring Bill’s cousin, Vinny, to defend them.

My Cousin Vinny Cast
Role

Joe Pesci
Vinny Gambini

Ralph Macchio
Bill Gambini

Marisa Tomei
Mona Lisa Vito

Mitchell Whitfield
Stan Rothenstein

Fred Gwynne
Judge Chamberlain Haller

Lane Smith
Jim Trotter III

Austin Pendleton
John Gibbons

Bruce McGill
Sheriff Dean Farley

My Cousin Vinny was nominated for various awards, including the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Marisa Tomei’s performance as Mona Lisa Vito, which she won. It was also a box office success, having grossed $64 million against a $11 million budget. Overall, My Cousin Vinny has been lauded for its performances and accuracy concerning its depiction of the legal system, making it a must-see movie from the 1990s.

6The Fall Of The House Of Usher

Willa Fitzgerald & Malcolm Goodwin

Verna and Madeline Usher on New Years Eve in The Fall of the House of Usher Carl Lumbly as Auggie in The Fall Of The House Of Usher Kate Siegel as Camille looking horrified while in the chimpanzee enclosure room in The Fall of the House of Usher Victorine LaFourcade holding Dr. Alessandra Ruiz's neck in The Fall of the House of Usher.  Madeline and Roderick Usher on New Years EveVerna and Madeline Usher on New Years Eve in The Fall of the House of Usher Carl Lumbly as Auggie in The Fall Of The House Of Usher Kate Siegel as Camille looking horrified while in the chimpanzee enclosure room in The Fall of the House of Usher Victorine LaFourcade holding Dr. Alessandra Ruiz's neck in The Fall of the House of Usher.  Madeline and Roderick Usher on New Years Eve

Another TV show that features two Reacher actors is The Fall of the House of Usher, one of Mike Flanagan’s many Netflix horror series. The Fall of the House of Usher debuted in October 2023 and its cast includes Willa Fitzgerald (Roscoe Conklin in Reacher season 1) and Malcolm Goodwin (Oscar Finlay in Reacher season 1). Fitzgerald plays the 1970s version of Madeline Usher, while Goodwin stars as young C. Auguste Dupin.

The Fall of the House of Usher is based on Edgar Allan Poe’s works, including his 1840 short story of the same name, of course. Netflix’s horror miniseries takes place over the course of 70 years, from 1953 to 2023, depicting the rise and fall of the Usher family, as the show’s name suggests. Other prominent stars are Carla Gugino, Mark Hamill, Bruce Greenwood, Carl Lumbly, Mary McDonnell, Kate Siegel, Henry Thomas, Rahul Kohli, and T’Nia Miller (many of whom are among Flanagan’s frequent actors).

5Outer Range

Shaun Sipos

Luke Tillerson, looking deeply concerned, observes through a glass reflecting patrol cars and ambulances in Outer Range season 2 Autumn and Luke behind her in Outer Range Josh Brolin as Royal in Outer Range season 2 Outer Range season 2-3-1 Outer Range season 2-5-1
Luke Tillerson, looking deeply concerned, observes through a glass reflecting patrol cars and ambulances in Outer Range season 2 Autumn and Luke behind her in Outer Range Josh Brolin as Royal in Outer Range season 2 Outer Range season 2-3-1 Outer Range season 2-5-1

Before joining the cast of Reacher season 2 as David O’Donnell, Shaun Sipos starred in another Amazon Prime Video original — Outer Range. The sci-fi neo-Western TV show, created by Brian Watkins, follows Josh Brolin’s Royal Abbott. Royal is the owner of a Wyoming ranch who stumbles upon a strange black void on his land following the arrival of Autumn, a mysterious girl who Royal lets stay on the ranch. Sipos portrays Luke Tillerson, the oldest son in the Tillerson family, the Abbott’s rivals who want to take over their land.

Even though the series received positive reviews, Amazon Prime Video canceled Outer Range after only two seasons in 2024. So, there will be no third season. Outer Range is still worth the watch, though, to see more of Sipos and experience the sci-fi neo-Western show’s various twists and turns.

4Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Robert Patrick

Robert Patrick as the T-1000 in Terminator 2 Judgment Day Robert Patrick as T-1000, walking through fire in Terminator 2 Terminator 2 Robert Patrick Arnold Schwarzenegger Robert Patrick as the T-1000 with huge shotgun holes in the Boiler Room in Terminator 2 Judgment Day Robert Patrick as the T-1000 in Terminator 2Robert Patrick as the T-1000 in Terminator 2 Judgment Day Robert Patrick as T-1000, walking through fire in Terminator 2 Terminator 2 Robert Patrick Arnold Schwarzenegger Robert Patrick as the T-1000 with huge shotgun holes in the Boiler Room in Terminator 2 Judgment Day Robert Patrick as the T-1000 in Terminator 2

Robert Patrick is famous for playing villains in films and TV shows alike. He plays Shane Langston, one of the four villains in Reacher season 2, in the Amazon Prime Video series, after all. However, one of Patrick’s first antagonist roles (which also served as his breakthrough) is as T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgment DayT-1000 is a prototype Terminator that Skynet sends back in time to kill John Connor as a child.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day is considered not only the best Terminator movie but one of the greatest sequels ever made.

The Terminator sequel premiered in July 1991, seven years after the original film, and was an outstanding success. It grossed around $520 million and received positive reviews, resulting in numerous award nominations (like Best Makeup, Best Sound, Best Sound Effects Editing, and Best Visual Effects at the 64th Academy Awards). To this day, Terminator 2: Judgment Day is considered not only the best Terminator movie but one of the greatest sequels ever made.

3Silo

Ferdinand Kingsley

Ferdinand Kingsley smiling as George Wilkins in Silo George and Juliette Laying on a Ledge Above Water Silo Rebecca Ferguson as Juliette Nichols in Silo looking worried
George Wilkins' file in Silo
Silo Episode 1: George looks at the blueprints of the Silo, which show an underground tunnel systemFerdinand Kingsley smiling as George Wilkins in Silo George and Juliette Laying on a Ledge Above Water Silo Rebecca Ferguson as Juliette Nichols in Silo looking worried George Wilkins' file in Silo Silo Episode 1: George looks at the blueprints of the Silo, which show an underground tunnel system

Silo is one of Apple TV+’s many highly regarded sci-fi TV shows, and it also happens to star Reacher‘s Ferdinand Kingsley. Kingsley plays A.M. in season 2 of the Amazon Prime Video action drama. However, Silo fans will recognize the actor from his previous role as George Wilkins in the sci-fi dystopian drama.

Silo is set in an alternate future where a community of 10,000 people lives in a 144-level silo underground as Earth (above ground) is considered uninhabitable after a catastrophic event. Rebecca Ferguson (also known for her role as Lady Jessica in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune movies) leads the cast of Silo as Juliette Nichols, an engineer living in the silo who grows suspicious of its past and regulations. As of the writing of this article, Apple TV+ has released two seasons of Silo, with a third and a fourth on the way. Silo season 4 will serve as its ending, though.

2Swamp Thing

Maria Sten

Aside from Alan Ritchson, Maria Sten is one of Reacher‘s only stable cast members, having appeared in all three seasons. Sten stars as Frances Neagley, a corporate security professional and former Master Sergeant in the United States Army who served alongside Jack Reacher in the 110th Special Investigations Unit. However, before joining the Reacher cast, Sten portrayed Liz Tremayne in Swamp Thing.

Swamp Thing was released on DC Entertainment’s (now defuncted) streaming service DC Universe in 2019. The superhero TV series revolves around the titular character, who is based on the DC Comics figure of the same name. Unfortunately, Swamp Thing only ran for one season as it was canceled after 10 episodes. The show received positive reviews, though, as many applauded Swamp Thing for its horror elements, performances, and faithfulness to the source material.

1Blue Mountain State

Alan Ritchson

Alan Ritchson as Thad yelling in the locker room in Blue Mountain State Chris Romano as Sammy, Darin Brooks as Alex, Alan Ritchson as Thad, and Page Kennedy as Radon Randell in Blue Mountain State Omari Newton as Larry, Alan Ritchson as Thad, and Darin Brooks as Alex in Blue Mountain State Page Kennedy as Radon Randell in Blue Mountain State Alan Ritchson as Thad Castle in Blue Mountain State season 1, episode 1.Alan Ritchson as Thad yelling in the locker room in Blue Mountain State Chris Romano as Sammy, Darin Brooks as Alex, Alan Ritchson as Thad, and Page Kennedy as Radon Randell in Blue Mountain State Omari Newton as Larry, Alan Ritchson as Thad, and Darin Brooks as Alex in Blue Mountain State Page Kennedy as Radon Randell in Blue Mountain State Alan Ritchson as Thad Castle in Blue Mountain State season 1, episode 1.

Last, but certainly not least, Blue Mountain State contains one of Alan Ritchson’s most known roles, aside from Reacher. The actor plays Kevin “Thad” Devlin Castle in the Spike TV/Paramount Network sitcom, which premiered in 2010 and ran for three seasons before ending in 2011. Blue Mountain State follows a fictional university’s football team, the “Mountain Goats,” and explores the lives of Blue Mountain State’s athletes. The show has garnered a cult following over the years, especially after its addition to Netflix’s library.

According to Deadline, a Blue Mountain State sequel series starring Alan Ritchson as Thad was being shopped to different networks and streaming services in early 2024. However, since then, no more updates have been disclosed.

Ritchson’s Thad is the team’s linebacker and one of Blue Mountain State‘s most popular characters. Consequently, five years following the sitcom’s cancelation, Ritchson reprised his role as Thad in the 2016 film Blue Mountain State: The Rise of Thadland, which picks up after the events of season 3. Now, though, Ritchson is more recognized for his role in Reacher on Amazon Prime Video.

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