Since it's already greenlit for a second season, fans are speculating as to what challenges and characters Reacher will encounter next.
Season 1 adapted the first Jack Reacher novel, Killing Floor, and no matter which source material the second season chooses to cover, there are a few strong hints as to what adventures lie ahead of Reacher next time around.
Season 2 Will Follow Die Trying
Season 1 of Reacher followed the first novel of Lee Child's series, Killing Floor, so it makes sense that Season 2 would pick off right at the beginning of the second novel, Die Trying. It follows Reacher's kidnapping after helping a young, injured woman, and his mission to free her and stop the captors once and for all.
Given that Reacher is seen venturing town to town at the end of Season 1, it is a natural place to pick up the story again given his nomadic lifestyle. Reacher is an arbiter for good with a knack for vigilante justice, and this book perfectly captures his ability to help out those in need and take the fight to the enemy, no matter the cost.
Roscoe Will Return
Right from the beginning of Season 1, it was clear that Roscoe would be a major character throughout the story. Not only does she play a major role in the first book, but the chemistry between Reacher and Roscoe was one of the best parts of their adventures through Margrave.
At the end of Season 1, Roscoe toys with the idea of running for mayor, saying she wants to help rebuild the city her family has known for generations. If she begins Season 2 as Margrave's mayor, it's more than plausible that Reacher could call in a few favors from her to help him fight against his captors.
Actors From The Jack Reacher Movies Will Appear
Now that Reacher has gained a lot more notoriety from critics and fans alike, the show will undoubtedly be given a bigger budget to raise the bar for the first season set. In doing so, creators may decide to include some familiar actors from Christopher McQuarrie and Edward Zwick's big-screen adaptations.
Although it is already a popular franchise, this may help in bringing in a wider audience to see the small-screen adaptation of Reacher. No matter who the creators decide to bring into the fold, it will be a great way to pay homage to the original cast while expanding upon the universe in a meaningful way.
Reacher's Past Will Be Explored
For the majority of the show, Reacher's past was only alluded to through his personal s and brief childhood flashbacks. It is not until the final moments of the last episode that the show reveals Reacher's brother, Joe, and some of the events that led him down a path of justice.
Hopefully, fans will get to see more details about Reacher's past with the military police and some of the training he received to transform him into such an unstoppable force. It could also provide some unique connections to present events, which offers the possibility to call in more allies like Neagley to fight.
Finley Will Come To Help
Among the cast, Finley was another fan-favorite character of the show, who went through perhaps the most significant arc of all. He went from a reluctant ally of Reacher to a reliable, incorruptible cop that quickly became one of his closest confidants.
Although Finley remarks in the last episode that he is leaving law enforcement, Reacher also remarks that he is one of the better cops he has seen in his experience. Given that status as an effective enforcer and beloved addition to the show, it's hard to imagine that he won't up with Team Reacher again to save the day.
Reacher Season 2 Will Debut In Late 2023
It was clear from the first season that Reacher wanted to remain a grounded show in order to "test the waters" and give itself room to grow in the future. That being said, clearly, a lot of deliberate effort went into making sure the final product was faithful to the quality of Lee Child's books.
Now that fans are hungry for more, the production should speed up a bit to get a second season on Amazon. With a (likely) larger budget and more possibilities to work with, the holiday season of 2023 seems like the most likely candidate for release, but it may even be pushed to 2024 if significant changes are made.
A New ing Cast Will Take Center Stage
Another unique aspect of the Reacher novels is the constantly changing setting, which is a result of Reacher's self-itted tendency not to "stay near the flame". He's a wanderer, which means new settings, and for a television series, a (mostly) new cast.
Alan Ritchson's portrayal of Reacher is the highlight and benchmark of the series, so creators shouldn't have an issue with shuffling the deck on the cast of characters he encounters. If anything, new characters are a welcome addition that will shake up the tone and pacing of each season to come.
Reacher Will Meet His Match
One of the most renowned Jack Reacher novels is the seventh installment, Persuader, which finds Reacher facing a man he once thought dead and guilty of murdering someone very close to him. Normally, Reacher is the smartest man in the room, but Persuader turns the tables on him for the first time.
Perhaps the most enticing theme in Persuader is that of vulnerability since Reacher finally meets a man who may be smarter and stronger than he is. Following this storyline would be a huge twist from Season 1, in which Reacher is always able to strongarm his way out of a bad situation. This time around, he may have to find a brand new way out of the muck.
The Show Will Divert From Source Material
Season 1 of Reacher was mostly faithful to its source material, but it certainly took its own liberties in order to craft a more cohesive storyline. Given that there are 26 installments of the Jack Reacher franchise, it's also unlikely that the show will have 26 full seasons to cover them all.
This gives creators the unique opportunity to mix and match various aspects of different novels into a single season. So long as these collaborations adhere to the source material and make sense for fans, it's a strong possibility that Reacher's adventures will come from more than one story.
The Venezuelans Will Come Back For Revenge
In Season 1, Reacher uncovers that the counterfeiting operation in Margrave collaborating with Venezuelan mercenaries to quietly distribute the assets worldwide. After a few near-deadly run-ins with their forces, Reacher shuts down the Margrave operation, but some loose ends still remain.
It's likely that the Venezuelans won't take too kindly to their operations being shut down, so they may act as another central antagonist in Season 2. No matter which source material is adapted, it would be fascinating to see how Reacher can manage threats closing in from all sides.