Lee & Andrew Child On Why Reacher Is Better Than Bond [EXCLUSIVE]

Lee & Andrew Child On The Very Specific Way Reacher Is Tougher Than Bond Published Oct 13, 2026, 3:49 PM EDT Rose Graceling-Moore is an author, poet, and content manager, who has been writing about film, TV and comics since 2013, when she began writing for a local print magazine in Vancouver, BC. Since then, Rose has written for Horror Honeys, Moviepilot and Quirkbooks as well as Screenrant, initially focusing on comics and television, as well as diversity and representation on screen. Rose also co-hosted the DC Movies Podcast, and has guested on other nerd and entertainment podcasts over the past ten years. Now, she leads the Books team, and her own debut novel, The Second Chance Summer, was released in 2026. Sign in to your ScreenRant account EXCLUSIVE: Jack Reacher and James Bond are both iconic action heroes - but according to Reacher authors Lee & Andrew Child, there's a key difference between the two when it comes to love (and love interests). Reacher, now adapted to a smash hit Prime Video series, will be returning for a fifth season in 2027, but in the meantime, the 31st installment of the original book series is out October 20th. Chain Reaction brings back Susan Turner, and takes Reacher to an extremely isolated town and a high-level military conspiracy. James Bond, meanwhile, had his last big-screen outing in 2021, with No Time To Die, and the next installment (known as Bond 26) currently has no release date, although Denis Villeneuve is set to direct, and a casting announcement for the new Bond is expected extremely soon. And while the original Bond series ended with author Ian Fleming's passing in 1964, the series has continued with official spin-offs and additions written by other authors. The most recent, King Zero (by Charlie Higson) released in September. Ahead of the release of Chain Reaction, ScreenRant talked to Lee and co-author (and son) Andrew Child about the new novel and the TV series - and the fact that comparisons to James Bond, especially to Bond girls, are missing one important element: Lee Child: Well, you know, the James Bond thing is a slightly false comparison because Bond loves them and leaves them. He's proactive about it. It's his initiative. Reacher is a lonely man and would love it if one of the many relationships he has endured longer than 48 hours, he would be really happy with that. You know, in Chain Reaction we have Susan Turner - Reacher had a lovely affair with [Susan Turner] many years ago and he would have loved her to come on the road with him. There's a line that actually says, "I love being on the road. You should have come with me. I wish you had". And so it's not Reacher leaving them, it's they who leave Reacher every time.Chang, he really liked her. She appears in the very beginning of the next book where they end up in Milwaukee and Reacher goes out to get coffee one morning and she's not there when he gets back. And that is the end of that. Because she's smart enough know that this is great for 48 hours, but it ain't gonna work long term. Andrew Child: Yeah, [it's true] in the James Bond books, more so than the movies. It's really clear that Bond is so cynical that he specifically seeks out married women because he knows that they won't be able to stay with him because they're married to someone else. Whereas Reacher, obviously, he doesn't do that. He's not looking for relationships that are guaranteed to go nowhere. I mean, they all happen to go nowhere, but he doesn't make that a deliberate feature of them. LC: And we try and make it a defining characteristic of Reacher deep down that he's conflicted. He loves his solitude and his agency, but he fears loneliness. That is the central tension in him.So it is, I think, sad that Chang looked like a prospect, but eventually, days later, thought, "you know what? I'm going home". I felt very upset for Reacher about that. The way to describe him is it's a very kind of soft, softer and more romantic than other action heroes, but also potentially tougher and more alone. He would like somebody. He would, but he never finds it. Reacher's Attitude To Women Translates Better For A Modern Audience Image via Everett Collection While on the surface, Reacher and Bond both have short-term relationships, it's clear that Reacher is a more genuine, less cynical hero - and that may well be a part of what makes him such an appealing action hero for today's audience. By not being the one to actively seek out doomed relationships, or avoiding emotional intimacy, he becomes a more nuanced character than Bond - and he is easier to root for, without the misogynistic overtones. There's a much clearer level of respect for women in Reacher, without sacrificing the action-hero tropes, or tying him to a single relationship in a way that could impact his storylines.It is worth noting, though, that Bond has been changing in recent incarnations. Starting with the introduction of a female M in 1995, when the incomparable Judi Dench took over the iconic role, the franchise has actively built out more in-depth female characters. In No Time To Die, Nomi and Paloma exist as capable agents in their own right, rathre than the more traditional damsel in distress. However, it's difficult to really step away from the classic Bond Girl without stepping away from the character himself. There's still plenty of room for change, though- and Reacher is a significantly more recent character. Bond was created in 1953 vs Reacher's 1997, so it should come as no real surprise that Jack may have a better attitude to love than James. Reacher May Be Looking For Love, But There Is No Happy Ending On The Horizon As an action hero who would actually love to be in a long-standing relationship, ScreenRant asked if there was any possibility of a happily ever after for the character, or for seeing romantic leads become more of a fixture in his life. Ironically, though, as long as Reacher has the fandom he does, a happy ending will continue to elude him: LC: I think that's up to Andrew now, obviously. AC:Well, you know, really it's up to the readers because, you know, as long, as long as they keep wanting more Reacher, then we're going to keep giving them more Reacher. So, I mean, if he did settle down, you know, with a house and a dog and a partner, that would basically be the end, wouldn't it? Release Date February 3, 2022 Network Prime Video Showrunner Nick Santora Cast Maria Sten Frances Neagley Without a phone and traveling light, former military police officer Jack Reacher drifts between American towns, embroiling himself in local crimes and bringing justice in his wake. Based on the series of novels by Lee Child, Reacher's journey offers him an intimate understanding of the nation he once served.