‘Jack Reacher 2’ Casting Update: Cobie Smulders In Talks To Join Tom Cruise; Production Begins In November

Cobie Smulders is said to be in talks to join Tom Cruise as a cast member in his forthcoming movie “Jack Reacher 2.” The production of the movie is expected to begin this November.

According to a report by TheWrap, Smulders is in early talks with the producers to star as the female lead in Cruise’s movie. Rosamund Pike had played the lead role of Helen in the 2012 movie and the report notes that Cruise likes to change the female leads in the movie in order to keep things “fresh.”

Smulders is known for playing Maria Hill in the “Avengers” movies and “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D” TV series. The actress also reprised her role in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” She has been a part of many other TV projects including “How I Met Your Mother.”

The plot of “Jack Reacher 2” is said to be based on Lee Child’s book “Never Go Back.” The protagonist Reacher, played by Cruise, will be going back to the U.S. Army Military Police Corps and will find that his commanding officer has been arrested. The 2012 movie focussed on the Reacher trying to solve the mystery behind a mass shooting of innocent civilians by a military sniper that he knew from before.

According to a report by TheHollywoodReporter, sources familiar with the developments of the movie have revealed that filming will begin in November this year and Ed Zwick will be directing. Zwick has helmed projects like “Defiance” and “Blood Diamond” and has worked with Crusie in “The Last Samurai.”

Paramount is said to have been reluctant to make a sequel starring Cruise as Reacher. The 2012 movie has been called a disappointment in the domestic box-office, but the studio apparently agreed to the project after the movie was able to generate a profit because of non-theatrical markets like Video On Demand and Pay Per View.

“Jack Reacher 2” is slated to be released in 2016 and the producers haven’t specified an exact release date. Cruise is the only confirmed cast member of the movie and he will also be taking on the responsibility of being the producer with Don Granger. David Ellison will be joining the project as the executive producer.

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