Considering his last December release, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, made nearly $700 million worldwide, Paramount was attempting to launch a new Tom Cruise-centered franchise with last month’s Jack Reacher, but the plans may be aborted if the film doesn’t hit it big overseas.
Prime material for a series, considering the author Lee Child has written over 15 books surrounding the former United States Army Military Police Corps major, The Hollywood Reporter did some simple math when it comes to the film’s box office, a strong indicator whether or not a sequel is in the cards.
Although the Christopher McQuarrie-directed action vehicle only cost $60 million to produce, one would think its $150 million-plus worldwide haul would at least spark a conversation for a follow-up, but sources indicate that Paramount is looking towards the sweet spot of $250 million before it thinks about a sequel.
With the film still awaiting release in Japan, China, Korea and more, there is a chance it could hit this mark, but it will be a long road to do so. If a sequel does move forward, we can expect a film around the same budget, but we’ll have to wait and see if Cruise’s star power — an element that Paramount has been selling since the beginning — is enough to give the film a boost internationally.
As for my own take, I enjoyed the throwback thriller, especially how Cruise portrayed the character, and would be eager to see a sequel, but I’d much rather watch a Mission: Impossible follow-up beforehand, something that is sure to arrive sooner.
Were you a fan of Jack Reacher? Do you want to see a sequel?