‘We Tried To Warn You’ Alan Ritchson Shared The Lesson He Learned The Hard Way In Doing His Own Stunt In Reacher Season 3 Finale

Alan Ritchson got candid about the hard lesson he learned from Reacher Season 3. According to the actor, he had been warned but insisted on doing a stunt that got him unconscious for over a day.

Reacher is a hit crime TV series on Amazon Prime Video. It was based on Lee Child‘s popular “Jack Reacher” book series. Reacher Season 1, based on the “Killing Floor” novel, premiered on February 4, 2022, and was well received. Season 2 based on “Bad Luck and Trouble” was released in 2024, and Season 3 from the novel “Persuader” followed a year later, and both were well-received. Despite the positive reception, Ritchson was so dedicated to the show that he insisted on filming an intense scene. He had been warned about the idea, but he didn’t take no for an answer until the production staff agreed. However, he later learned that they were right about it, but it was too late for him since he had no choice after facing the consequences.

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Reacher Season 3′s finale, “Unfinished Business,” features the most intense battle in the series when Reacher finds himself against the formidable 7-foot-tall bodyguard, Paulie. The scene was savage, with Ritchson’s character being punched, hung, and thrown repeatedly. Reacher eventually killed Paulie, but he was badly bruised. It turned out that the actor ended up in bad shape, too, just like his character. According to Ritchson, when he read about his character being “ragdolled for five minutes,” he found it “fun” and insisted on shooting the stunt. “I want the audience to know that I’m doing this for us,” Ritchson explained. However, the production initially turned down the idea, but he insisted. He said:

Ritchson said it was a “huge fight” between him and his team. He eventually won, but he was given a stern warning. “You better not die because we said you’re going to die, and we tried to warn you,” his team reportedly told him. When they shot the scene, Ritchson was slammed on the table so hard that he ended up getting knocked unconscious and only woke up “a day and a half later.” When his kids visited him on set, he pretended everything was okay, but it was reportedly “the worst few minutes of my life.” The incident was a lesson he had to learn the hard way.

It’s understandable why Ritchson insisted on doing the stunt in that particular scene. It was the most brutal scene in Reacher Season 3, and he probably liked being a part of it since it involved his character and the season’s big villain. Also, he probably foresees the scene leaving a mark among fans and believes it will give him a sense of pride if it’s him in action. However, there was also a reason why his request to do it had been repeatedly turned down. Apparently, it was very dangerous and there was no doubt about it, especially with how it ended up for Ritchson.

Ritchson has three sons with his wife, Catherine, who are still too young. Their eldest child is only 12 and their youngest, 9. It’s probably best for him to listen to his team next time because being injured, worse, dying for a project isn’t worth it. No matter how dedicated one is to their work, there must still be a limit regarding the level of risks they’ll subject themselves to. Also, Ritchson still wants to play his fan-favorite DC superhero, Batman. Fortunately, Ritchson made it out alive. But this should also be a lesson for everyone to take caution with their desire. As the common adage says, “Be careful what you wish for.”

Reacher Season 3 streams on Amazon Prime Video.

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Source: Entertainment Weekly