Is the new Jack Reacher movie based on the Lee Child novels? If so, isn't Tom Cruise a stretch to play this character? In the books Reacher is described as well over 6 feet tall, weighing 200 pounds or more with ice blue eyes & dirty blond hair, and being very muscular & strong. When reading the books Tom Cruise is about the last person I'd picture as Jack Reacher. So I'm wondering if this is a totally different Jack Reacher than the one from the novels?

Tom Cruise's Jack Reacher is based off of One Shot, the ninth Jack Reacher novel.

The author Lee Child mentioned he's well aware that Cruise doesn't resemble Jack Reacher's appearance in the series saying, "Tom Cruise was always interested in playing Reacher, and he has the acting skills to pull it off. ... With another actor, you might get 100 percent of the height but only 90 percent of Reacher. With Tom, you’ll get 100 percent of Reacher with 90 percent of the height."

^Thanks for the info JamesG. Tom Cruise is a very good actor & I'm sure he's done an excellent job in the movie. And I imagine most people who will see the movie won't have read any of the books. But for the people who have, it will seem strange seeing Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher.

Tom Cruise's Jack Reacher is based off of One Shot, the ninth Jack Reacher novel.

The author Lee Child mentioned he's well aware that Cruise doesn't resemble Jack Reacher's appearance in the series saying, "Tom Cruise was always interested in playing Reacher, and he has the acting skills to pull it off. ... With another actor, you might get 100 percent of the height but only 90 percent of Reacher. With Tom, you’ll get 100 percent of Reacher with 90 percent of the height."
...uhh shouldn't that actually be 68% of the height you get with Tom Cruise?

they did the same thing in Interview With The Vampire where Tom Cruise was supposed to be playing the 6-4 tall, blond, light featured Vampire Lestat - I guess if you had never read the books and could stretch your imagination to believe that Tom Cruise could somehow intimidate and tower over anyone that it might be believable.