Alan Ritchson’s New Netflix Movie Is The Closest Thing To A Reacher Prequel (But With A Twist)

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Alan Ritchson’s new movie on Netflix could essentially serve as a backstory to his popular character in the Amazon Prime series Reacher, but with a slight difference in how the story is told. Reacher, based on the novels by Lee Child, quickly became a hit when it launched in 2022. Ritchson stars as the former military police officer who wanders the country, and each season of the show is based on a different book in the series.

The Amazon Prime series Reacher has already covered the stories from Killing Floor, Bad Luck and Trouble, and Persuader. Season 4 will be based on the book Gone Tomorrow, set in New York City, and will center around solving a mysterious death in the subway. The show has primarily focused on Reacher’s current cases, and it’s expected to continue that trend. However, for viewers interested in learning more about his past, Alan Ritchson’s new movie on Netflix might offer some insight.

Alan Ritchson Is A Soldier In Active Duty In War Machine

Season two of the Reacher series, based on Bad Luck and Trouble, explored Jack Reacher’s past in the 110th Special Investigations Unit, but didn’t fully reveal what his time in the military was like. Alan Ritchson’s new film, War Machine, offers a different look at a soldier’s life. He plays a character known only as 81—his number from Ranger training—and the movie delves into why he became a Ranger, including the death of his brother in combat. This personal loss adds depth to his motivations.

The show Reacher primarily takes place in the present, so we see very little of Jack Reacher during his time in the military. While the show isn’t short on fight scenes, they all feature him as a civilian. Season 2 of Reacher used flashbacks to introduce the team he worked with, but didn’t focus much on actual combat. The film War Machine offers what Reacher doesn’t – extended scenes of Ritchson’s character as an active soldier fighting with his unit.

War Machine’s Sci-Fi Element Differentiates It From Reacher

Although War Machine appears to be a typical war film, it differs from Reacher in a surprising way. While Reacher has stayed realistic, War Machine introduces a science fiction element. Instead of battling human opponents, the soldiers in the film—including 81 and his team—find themselves fighting aliens, leading to a violent struggle for survival.

I just finished watching War Machine, and whether we get a follow-up really depends on how audiences respond. It’s fresh off release, so Netflix is probably waiting to see the numbers. But if you’re a Reacher fan looking for more Alan Ritchson, this is a solid weekend watch – you won’t be disappointed.

War Machine now streams on Netflix, while Reacher is available on Amazon Prime.

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2026-03-06 20:43