Who Is Reacher Season 3's Main Villain? Explained

With a number of new individuals to threaten the apparently unstoppable protagonist of the Amazon Prime series, Reacher season three is expected to be the most thrilling and intense yet. Many of Reacher's main characters parted ways at the end of season 2, but because the show uses an anthology style of storytelling, there is plenty of opportunity for them to return for a fresh adventure in season 3. Based on what is known about the third season, it appears that the show will continue to put Alan Ritchson's character Jack Reacher in ever-more-dangerous situations.

One of the most well-known and compelling tales in Lee Child's lengthy franchise, Persuader, will serve as a loose inspiration for the plot of Reacher season 3. Reacher infiltrates a risky drug enterprise and saves an undercover police officer from people who are starting to question who he really is in the book. Although it's undoubtedly one of Reacher's riskiest assignments, it's the ideal pick for the upcoming season of the program, which will feature some of Child's most formidable and evil characters who actually threaten the safety of Reacher and others.

Francis Xavier Quinn

One of Jack Reacher's most well-known enemies, Francis Xavier Quinn, will appear on screen for the first time in the third season of the television adaption. Quinn is a physically intimidating army colonel who was the focus of Reacher's investigations many years ago after he sold weapons to adversaries, according to the books. He will be a fierce foe in the series because of his shared military background with Reacher and their complicated relationship, especially when the hero ventures into uncharted area and must conceal his true identity from everyone around him.

It is instantly apparent from Quinn's initial appearance in Persuader that Reacher season 3 will follow the plot of this novel quite closely. Quinn will hopefully be given the prominent presence in this plot that he deserves, which is comforting to ardent fans as the show has a history of introducing characters before (or after) their entry points in the source material. Persuader's reduced stakes for Reacher's third season may be a drawback, but characters like Quinn give it a far more engaging emphasis on character growth.

Quinn's actor, Brian Tee, is most recognized for his role as Dr. Ethan Choi on Chicago Med and its several spinoffs, but over his career, he has also starred in films including Jurassic World, The Wolverine, and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. As a result, he is well acquainted with the action movie genre. Since Quinn is a real threat to Reacher in the books and needs to project the same terror on screen, Tee's physical size and authoritative on-screen presence make him an ideal choice.

Zachary Beck

Reacher's third season is expected to feature Zachary Beck, who is also one of the primary antagonists in Child's Persuader book. The DEA suspects this influential man of smuggling drugs through his carpet-selling firm, and Reacher is assigned to infiltrate his operation in order to obtain indisputable evidence of his wrongdoing. This trail is what initially lands him Quinn's scent and starts him on a quest for justice and retribution, even though his search doesn't immediately yield results.

Compared to the other new on-screen opponents, Beck seems to be a far more nuanced and multifaceted character than the majority of Reacher's antagonists, and he is certain to make an intriguing impression in the third season of the show. Alan Ritchson, the show's lead actor, has already hailed it as "by far the best season"; a large part of that appreciation probably stems from the nuanced relationships that develop between Reacher, Beck, and Quinn as this dramatic storyline progresses. Persuader, which shows how captivating Reacher can be as a protagonist in the right situation, is one of Child's best-written books.

Anthony Michael Hall, who is most known for working with director John Hughes on films including The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, and Weird Science, will portray Zachary Beck in Reacher. But since his Brat Pack days, Hall has advanced significantly. He most recently starred in The Goldbergs and Halloween Kills. Reacher, who will be portrayed by Johnny Berchtold in the third season, will also feature a significant role from Zachary's son Richard. Dog Gone and The Passenger are among the latter's previous credits.

Paul Masserella

"Paulie" Masserella, who is more than seven feet tall and more than 300 pounds in weight, is probably the most formidable opponent Reacher has ever faced—or will ever face. He is one of the bodyguards employed by Beck's business and is one of the first to suspect Reacher when he attempts to enter the corporation. In the season 3 trailer, Frances Neagley refers to the character as "twice your size" to Jack Reacher. Olivier Richters is the ideal choice to play this ridiculously powerful figure on TV.

Despite not being the primary antagonist in Persuader, Paulie's inclusion in the marketing for the next season suggests that he will play a larger role in the television version. The relationship between Paulie and Beck may be examined more thoroughly in the show, with Paulie serving as a glaring barrier between Reacher and the information he seeks about Beck's illegal actions. It would be intriguing to extend the plot for television in this fashion, and it would be fantastic to finally see Reacher engage in actual combat with his opponents.

Dutch actor and bodybuilder Richters has used his physical prowess in films like Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Black Widow, and The Kings Man. Being five inches taller than any other competitor, he also holds the record for being the tallest bodybuilder in the world. Although balancing the complexity of three interconnected villains, he seems like the ideal choice to play this Reacher villain. Paulie's physical advantage over the protagonist is what makes him a significant character in the Reacher books, so it's imperative that this is reflected in the show as well.