‘Reacher’ Star Alan Ritchson Took a Real Punch from 7-Foot ‘Monster’ Olivier Richters on Set

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Filming intense fight scenes can be challenging, but for “Reacher” actor Alan Ritchson, one scene got unexpectedly genuine. During the filming of season three of the popular Prime Video series, Ritchson inadvertently received a punch from his colossal co-star, 7-foot-2 bodybuilder Olivier Richters.

In the approaching season, Jack Reacher (portrayed by Ritchson) finds himself infiltrating a criminal network. There, he encounters Paulie (Richters), an immense enforcer with a healthy dose of skepticism towards him. With Paulie’s prodigious size and strength, the confrontation between these two characters presents one of Reacher’s most formidable obstacles to date.

Ritchson reminisced about the instance when a staged combat transformed into an unintended blow. He stated, “Once I received a punch accidentally, and I thought to myself, ‘I’m not sure I’d want to engage in a real-life fight with this person.’

In a striking contrast, the world’s tallest bodybuilder, Richters, measuring an impressive 7 feet 2 inches, significantly outgrows Ritchson, who stands at 6 foot 3. Even renowned author Lee Child, known for creating the Jack Reacher character, was taken aback by their size disparity. He expressed, “I was astonished by how Richters dwarfed Ritchson.

Regardless of the unintentional blow, Ritchson couldn’t help but laud his co-star’s dedication. “He’s incredible, really put in the effort, and he did so to fit seamlessly into the Reacher world. He prepared for around four months before we started working together, and I hope his preparation is evident.

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The upcoming season, inspired by Lee Child’s novel “The Persuader,” is set to deliver intense action sequences and high-risk combat. Ritchson expressed his belief that viewers will witness something extraordinary, stating, “I think audiences are in for an unprecedented spectacle. In the book, it feels as though Reacher will meet his demise in a fierce battle against this adversary, and there seems to be no way he can emerge victorious.

With each scene requiring several weeks to polish just right, Ritchson anticipates that all this hard work will result in a viewing experience similar to what we put into it.

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2025-02-19 17:45