Reacher Officially Brings Back Cobie Smulders’ Character in New Story

Fans of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher novels have more reasons to celebrate after an incredible fourth season of the Amazon Prime Video series, Reacher. The 31st novel in the franchise is due for release in one week, and this time, another familiar face returns to meet the former soldier in his new mission: Susan Turner, whom we last saw in Never Go Back.

Lee Child revealed that he wanted to mix up the format a bit in the upcoming novel, Chain Reaction, and hence brought back Turner, who is a fan-favorite character. Cobie Smulders, known for playing Agent Maria Hill in the MCU and Robin in How I Met Your Mother, played the role in Tom Cruise’s Jack Reacher: Never Go Back.

Susan Turner Hunts Jack Reacher in Chain Reaction

Tom Cruise and Cobie Smulders in Jack Reacher: Never Go Back | Credits: Paramount Pictures

Written by Lee and Andrew Child, Chain Reaction is set to release in stores around the world on October 20. Much like the other novels in the series, the central mystery is self-contained, and any reader can start the franchise from this book without feeling too lost. However, there is one strong connection to the other books: Susan Turner.

Turner was first mentioned in the novel 61 Hours, where she was a mysterious voice, but then made her full-fledged debut in Never Go Back. The novel was adapted to film, with Tom Cruise reprising his role from the first film as Jack Reacher and Cobie Smulders playing Turner. The character is known for being fierce and vicious, almost an equal match to Reacher.

In the upcoming novel, Chain Reaction, Susan Turner seems to be on the lookout for the former soldier. In the excerpt released on Men’s Journal, Turner is now General Turner and seeks out Reacher by looking at his bank transactions and predicting where he will be reaching to collect his next credit card. It is a thrilling read already, and unlike other stories where Reacher finds himself in shenanigans, the shenanigans have chased him in this one.

Lee Child told Men’s Journal that he was interested in the character of Susan for a long time and was looking to bring her back.

In the past of Reacher-world, there had been this character, Major Susan Turner, and she had been captivating to Reacher. It has always been in the back of our minds; why don’t we bring her back?

The duo has formed a strong bond in their previous outing, and now, 13 years later, they reunite having seen more of life and risen through the ranks.

Will Susan Turner Appear in Alan Ritchson’s Future Seasons?

Cobie Smulders in Jack Reacher: Never Go Back | Credits: Paramount Pictures

Susan Turner has already been depicted in live-action once. Tom Cruise and Cobie Smulders tried their best to recreate the raw chemistry of Reacher and Susan, but in many ways failed to retain the magic. The sequel became the last film adaptation starring Cruise, and the novel franchise went ahead with the series.

Will Susan Turner turn up in Reacher? The answer is pretty much unknown now. The upcoming season will be based on the novel Make Me, and so far the show has adapted Killing Floor, Bad Luck and Trouble, Persuader, and Gone Tomorrow. Ritchson has mentioned his passion for adapting Die Trying before, so that might be prioritized. 

Well, we can never say never with Reacher, and the Amazon Prime Video series starring Alan Ritchson has yet to adapt many novels in the franchise. The way the numbers speak for Reacher and its spinoff show, Neagley, it might be a long time before either series ends, and Never Go Back can get another chance at redemption.

Are you excited for the next Jack Reacher novel? Comment below.