#FIRSTLOOK: “JACK REACHER” ADDS ANTHONY MICHAEL HALL AND SONYA CASSIDY AS SERIES REGULARS

Today, Prime Video, Skydance Television, and Paramount Television Studios announced the casting of Anthony Michael Hall and Sonya Cassidy as series regulars for the upcoming third season of Reacher, the action-packed drama series starring Alan Ritchson in the title role of Jack Reacher. As previously announced, Maria Sten will also return for Season Three as Frances Neagley.

In the third season, which is based on the 7th book in Lee Child’s global best-selling series, Persuader, Reacher must go undercover to rescue an informant held by a haunting foe from his past.

Anthony Michael Hall (Bosch: Legacy, Halloween Kills) has been cast as Zachary Beck. A formidable and successful businessman, Beck is a widow and single father of a 20-year-old son, Richard. He is the owner of a rug import company that Reacher and his cohorts suspect is a cover for a more nefarious operation. Hall is repped by Untitled, A3, and Jill Fritzo PR.

Sonya Cassidy (The Man Who Fell to Earth, Lodge 49) has been cast as Susan Duffy, an extremely intelligent and tough DEA agent from Boston with a sharp and sarcastic sense of humor. Cassidy is represented by UTA and Independent Talent.

Reacher Season Three is currently filming in Toronto. The renewal was announced in December 2023, two weeks before season two premiered on Prime Video.

Reacher Season Two was the #1 title on Prime Video worldwide across both series and movies in 2023 during its premiere weekend (based on viewership). The series’ global audience grew 50% between seasons in the first three days after the second season’s debut on December 15, 2023. All episodes of the first two seasons of Reacher are now streaming on Prime Video.

Based on the novels by Lee Child, who is an executive producer on the series, Reacher stars Alan Ritchson (Fast X, Titans) and is produced by Amazon MGM Studios, Skydance Television, and Paramount Television Studios. Reacher is written for television by Emmy-nominated writer Nick Santora (FUBAR, Prison Break), who also executive produces and serves as showrunner. In addition to Santora and Child, Ritchson will serve as an executive producer of Season Three, along with Don Granger, Scott Sullivan, Mick Betancourt, and David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Matt Thunell for Skydance. Carolyn Harris and Kenny Madrid are the executives-in-charge of the series for Skydance Television.

#FIRSTLOOK: “JACK REACHER” SEASON TWO TRAILER

The massive hit is back and bigger than ever! Today, Prime Video released the official trailer for Reacher Season Two and announced the adrenaline-fueled series will return on December 15, 2023. After the overwhelming response to the debut season, the new instalment ups the ante with even higher stakes and action. The eight-episode season will roll out weekly, with the first three episodes premiering on December 15, and subsequent episodes dropping every Friday through January 19, 2024, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. Reacher has commanded a Jack Reacher-sized global audience, quickly becoming one of the top five most watched original seasons ever globally on Prime Video during its inaugural run. Fans can catch up on the first season, alongside a wide range of other action crime thrillers available on Prime Video including Jack Ryan, Citadel, Shelter and The Terminal List.

Reacher Season Two begins when veteran military police investigator Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson) receives a coded message that the members of his former U.S. Army unit, the 110th MP Special Investigations, are being mysteriously and brutally murdered one by one. Pulled from his drifter lifestyle, Reacher reunites with three of his former teammates turned chosen family to investigate, including Frances Neagley (Maria Sten); Karla Dixon (Serinda Swan), a forensic accountant for whom Reacher has long had a soft spot; and fast-talking, switchblade-wielding family man David O’Donnell (Shaun Sipos). Together, they begin to connect the dots in a mystery where the stakes get higher at every turn, and that brings about questions of who has betrayed them—and who will die next. Using his inimitable blend of smarts and size, Reacher will stop at nothing to uncover the truth and protect the members of his unit. If there’s one thing Reacher and his team know for certain, it’s that you do not mess with the Special Investigators. This season, get ready for Reacher and the 110th to hit back hard.

Based on Bad Luck and Trouble, the 11th book in Lee Child’s global best-selling series, Reacher Season Two stars Alan Ritchson in the title role of Jack Reacher, with Maria Sten, Serinda Swan, and Shaun Sipos as key members of the 110th MP Special Investigations Unit. Rounding out the cast are Ferdinand Kingsley as A.M., a mercenary that homeland security refers to as a “ghost;” Robert Patrick as Shane Langston, head of security for a private defence contractor with a questionable track record; and Domenick Lombardozzi as tough NYPD detective Guy Russo.

#BOXOFFICE: “A MADEA HALLOWEEN” SPOOKS ITS WAY TO #1!

In an unexpected turn of events, TYLER PERRY’S BOO! A MADEA HALLOWEEN debuts atop the Box Office for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films with $24.5 million from 2,260 theatres across North America. Despite a 31% rating on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer, Audiences gave it a resilient A CinemaScore explaining why it is audiences keep coming back for more and more Madea!

JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK debuts in second spot for Paramount Pictures with $22 million from 3,780 theatres. It gets a 39% on the Tomatometer and a B+ CinemaScore from Audiences.

In third is THE ACCOUNTANT with $15 million for Warner Bros., totaling $47 million over two weeks.

OUIJA: ORIGIN OF EVIL debuts in fourth spot for Universal Pictures with $13 million from 3,167 theatres. It gets a C CinemaScore from Audiences, but a fantastic 81% on the Tomatometer from Critics.  Its 2014 Predecessor opened with $19.8 million.

THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN is in fifth this weekend with $$7.4 million for Universal Pictures. Over three weeks it has made $59 million domestically.

KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES opens in seventh for 20th Century Fox with $5.4 million from 3,022 theatres. The Action-Comedy despite a stacked cast including Jon Hamm, Gal Gadot and Zach Galifianakis, manages only an 18% on the Tomatometer and a B- CinemaScore.

KEVIN HART: WHAT NOW? in its second week rounds-out the Top Ten with $3.9 million for Universal Pictures. It has made $18.8 million total thus far.

#BOXOFFICE: “ZERO DARK THIRTY” SHINES BRIGHT AT BOX OFFICE

Huge numbers for Zero Dark Thirty which in a perfectly-timed expansion to 2,937 theatres just one day after Oscar Nominations were announced, earns $24 million for Sony Pictures/Alliance Films. The intense Drama about the successful capture of Osama bin Laden, to date has earned $31 million after two v. successful weeks in Limited Release. Reviews equally are solid with it earning a stellar 92% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer. Many are seeing this latest Effort from Oscar-winning Director Kathryn Bigelow as a legitimate contender to win Best Picture next month.

A Haunted House opens in 2,160 theatres south of the border for Open Road Films, earning $17.5 million and opening in second.  The Horror-Comedy stars Marlon Wayans and spoofs Found-Footage Horrors like Paranormal Activity and The Devil Inside and has yet to be released in Canada. Critics as expected, ripped the Film to shreds, earning a paltry 10% on the Tomatometer, but Users overwhelmingly gave it an 85% rating and Cinemascore gave it a B- rating; not bad.

After delays, Mobster Drama Gangster Squad debuts respectably in third with $17 million from 3,103 theatres. Made for $75 million, the slick-looking Film boasts a stellar Cast including Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Giovanni Ribisi and Emma Stone. Although Critics had their opinions about the Movie, Audiences responded well and it gets a B+ Cinemascore.

Still going strong after a Christmas release, Django Unchained lands in fourth this week for The Weinstein Co./Alliance Films, earning $14.5 million. Just nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, that news likely helped propel Moviegoers into the theatres this weekend. It already has earned over $125 million domestically.

Les Misérables, like Django Unchained, continues to get a push from its Oscar Nomination for Best Picture, earning $9.5 million in its third week. Above this, its Soundtrack is performing exceedingly-well on the U.S. Billboard Hot 200 Chart, currently the number one-selling Album in North America.

The Hobbit in its fifth week lands in sixth with $9 million – to date earning $277 million domestically. This places it  just ahead of Disney‘s Lincoln which earns a v. solid $6.3 million in its tenth week.

Last week’s Champ, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D is unable to maintain its dominance, slipping to number eighth this weekend with $5.5 million after debuting on-top. Paramount Pictures’ Jack Reacher rounds-out the Top Ten with $5 million.

#BOXOFFICE: “THE HOBBIT” DOMINATES A SECOND WEEK

For a second week in-a-row, Warner Bros.’ The Hobbit maintains its dominance at the Box Office, bringing-in $36.7 million from 4,100 theatres. In its two week run so far domestically it has earned $145.2 million and despite a significant drop this weekend, it still is far and clear ahead of the competition.

Tom Cruise shows that he definitely still has what it takes to draw a crowd, with Paramount Pictures’ Novel Series Adaptation Jack Reacher earning a respectable $15.6 million in its debut from 3,352 theatres.  Critics had generally positive things to say about the Film,  tallying-in at 69% at Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer.

Judd Apatow‘s Knocked-Up sorta Sequel This is 40 opens in 2,912 theatres this weekend in third with $12 million for Universal Pictures. Reviews unfortunately have been mixed for the Comedy starring Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann, garnering only 49% on the Tomatometer.

Rise of the Guardians still is going strong in fourth with $5.9 million for Paramount Pictures, landing ahead of Disney‘s Lincoln with $5.6 million in fifth.

Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand on paper seemed like an amazing idea, but Mother-Son Comedy The Guilt Trip which perhaps would’ve better been saved for a Mother’s Day release than the already crowded Holiday slate.   It earns $5.4 million in its opening also for Paramount Pictures, good enough for sixth.

Experiencing a slip this weekend is former Champ Skyfall with $4.7 million in eighth, while The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 rounds out the Top Ten in its sixth week with $2.6 million.  Meanwhile, Oscar Frontrunner Zero Dark Thirty, which is set for a January wide release, opens limited in five theatres, grossing an impressive $410k from.  Keep a tab on this one as big things are expected from Director Kathryn Bigelow.