Jack Ryan’s Season 5 Replacement Will End Those Reacher Comparisons For Good

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As a critic, I’ve been thinking a lot about John Krasinski’s run as Jack Ryan, and it’s hard not to compare him to Jack Reacher. They both landed on Prime Video around the same time as these very solid, dependable action thrillers. Both shows feature ex-military leads – both with the initials J.R., oddly enough – and they’re both adapted from hugely popular book series. What really struck me was how similar they were in structure, each season telling a completely self-contained story. They felt like the same kind of show, really – what I’ve started calling ‘Dad shows’ – even with all the differences between the characters and plots.

The competition between Amazon’s Reacher and Jack Ryan was very close, but Reacher likely came out ahead due to its strong first and third seasons, while Jack Ryan ended with a disappointing final season. Although Jack Ryan concluded after four seasons, the possibility of John Krasinski returning to the role hinted that the story might not be over.

Jack Ryan’s Next Mission Will Avoid The Reacher Comparisons

John Krasinski will reprise his role as Jack Ryan, but instead of a fifth season of the TV show, he’ll star in a movie. The film continues the story from the series finale and will also feature Wendell Pierce and Michael Kelly returning as James Greer and Mike November. Currently in post-production, the movie could potentially launch a new Jack Ryan film series if it’s successful.

As a big movie fan, I always felt the comparisons between John Krasinski’s Jack Ryan and Alan Ritchson’s Jack Reacher were a bit odd, but they made some sense when both were on TV. The fun came from seeing them both unraveling big mysteries over many episodes, hitting similar story points – like a character’s love interest changing, for example. Now that Jack Ryan is moving to movies, though, that rivalry feels pointless. Movies just move differently than TV, with a different focus and speed. It’s enough of a shift to make comparing them feel completely off – they’re really in different worlds now.

Honestly, trying to decide if Reacher could beat Ryan right now feels silly to me. It’s like comparing Alan Ritchson’s Reacher to Liam Neeson’s character in Taken, or even one of Gerard Butler’s action heroes – it just doesn’t really serve a purpose. They’re different characters, and the comparison feels pointless.

Jack Reacher and Jack Ryan are very different characters. Reacher is quiet and reserved, while Ryan is much more talkative. Plus, Ryan typically focuses on global threats, while Reacher solves problems within the U.S. These differences create a unique feel for each show.

Jack Ryan’s Transition To Movies Will Intensify A Very Different Rivalry

John Krasinski’s portrayal of Jack Ryan was frequently compared to previous actors who played the role, like Alec Baldwin, Ben Affleck, and Chris Pine. Most viewers agreed Krasinski did a better job than those three, but comparisons to Harrison Ford were more complicated. While either Ford or Krasinski could be considered the best Jack Ryan, fans strongly disagree on who truly takes the title.

It’s been hard to directly compare the two actors’ performances because they appeared in different formats—a TV series versus movies. Krasinski had the chance to develop his character more fully on television, while Harrison Ford’s limited screen time in the films created a sense of intrigue and left viewers wanting to see more.

The new Jack Ryan movie will give audiences a better basis for comparison between John Krasinski and Harrison Ford. Once Krasinski has starred in a full-length Jack Ryan film, it will be easier to judge who played the character more convincingly. This raises an interesting question: will it be harder for Krasinski to surpass Ford’s performance than it was for Alan Ritchson to follow up his role as Jack Reacher?

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2025-11-22 00:59