'Reacher' Season 3 Premieres Exclusively on This Streaming Channel, Sparking Buzz

"Reacher" is back with Season 3, and Alan Ritchson revealed in an interview a jaw-dropping fight with a co-star — a towering bodybuilder he calls a "monster."

Prime Video released the first three episodes — "Persuader," "Truckin'," and "Number 2 with a Bullet" — on February 19, 2025. Even though it is packed with suspense, action, undercover tension, and the star's trademark grit, the episodes have sparked mixed reactions, leaving some viewers thrilled and others frustrated.

Jack Reacher, played by Alan Ritchson, returns as the lone drifter — an ex-military police investigator with no phone, few belongings, and an unshakable sense of justice. In Season 3, based on Lee Child's "Persuader," Reacher races to save an undercover DEA informant, diving into a dangerous criminal network while confronting ghosts from his past.

Online reactions range from glowing reviews to frustration. "Only 3 episodes in, and I'm already loving it !! 🔥🔥," a fan reacted, while another viewer expressed excitement over the first three episodes, calling them "amazing" and eagerly anticipating the rest.

Someone else commented, "Have tried to watch - constantly buffering! Prime is always really poor performance." A different user complained, "Pity about the adverts,they spoil the flow," while another remarked, "Shame about all the ads!!.[sic]"

A sixth viewer shared their frustration after finishing the available episodes, expressing disappointment that the entire series wasn't released at once.

With more episodes on the way, fans are eager to see how deep Reacher will go to get the job done.

The "Reacher" universe is also expanding. As previously announced, Maria Sten returns as Frances Neagley in Season 3, joining cast members Anthony Michael Hall, Sonya Cassidy, Brian Tee, Johnny Berchtold, Robert Montesinos, Daniel David Stewart, and Olivier Richters.

On set, Season 3 delivered its own high-stakes action on and off camera. In a February 18 interview with Business Insider, Ritchson revealed that filming one intense fight scene with Olivier Richters got a little too real.

"I took a punch accidentally one time, and I was like, 'I don't think I would want to get in a fight with this guy in real life,'" Ritchson recalled.

Ritchson also called Richters "pretty tough" and a "monster," adding, "He worked really hard to come in and be ready for the 'Reacher' world. He trained for like four months before we got to set together, and hopefully it shows."

The fight scene, which took three weeks to film, aims to capture the intense stakes of Child's novel. "I think audiences are going to get to see something they've never seen before," he said.

Ritchson hopes the effort put into crafting the scene will give viewers the same adrenaline-charged emotion as in the original book. Reflecting on the experience, he described it as enjoyable and noted that it was unlike anything he had encountered in the previous two seasons of "Reacher."

The show's continued success builds on the strong reception of its earlier seasons. Season 1 scored a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes in 2022, while Season 2 climbed even higher with a 98% Tomatometer rating in 2023.

Viewership numbers reflected that enthusiasm — Season 2 racked up 1.69 billion minutes of viewing time, landing the series in second place overall in Nielsen's streaming rankings for the week, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Ritchson's time on set with Richters wasn't his only memorable moment alongside a bodybuilder. He had shared the screen with former bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger in another Amazon project.

Schwarzenegger stunned fans on December 16, 2024, after sharing a festive photo on Facebook, showcasing a dramatically different look from his iconic action-hero image.

In the photo, the 77-year-old actor donned a bright red coat with large toggle buttons layered over a colorful knit sweater and complemented by a long, patterned scarf. He completed the transformation with a white beard and wavy gray hair.

This look was later revealed to be part of his role as Santa Claus in the film "The Man with the Bag." Standing beside him was his co-star Alan Ritchson, casually dressed in a neutral-toned coat and black cap, subtly contrasting Schwarzenegger's striking seasonal appearance.

Facebook users could not help but be in awe of Schwarzenegger's appearance."White beard + white hair, this is Conan finally becoming the King in my dreams, for the last chapter of the trilogy! Crom, to hell with you [sic]!" a second remarked, referencing Schwarzenegger's iconic role in "Conan the Barbarian."

Others complimented his new look, suggesting that embracing his natural gray hair suits him well. More fans praised Schwarzenegger's transformation, with some saying his Austrian roots make him a natural fit for portraying Santa Claus.

Others were so surprised by the photo that they initially thought it was AI-generated, underscoring just how unexpected his festive appearance was.

Along with unveiling his festive look for the film, Schwarzenegger revealed that it is directed by Adam Shankman, whom he called "one of the funniest directors" he's worked with.

Adding to the excitement, celebrity photographer Elder Ordonez shared photos and a video of Schwarzenegger filming in various locations across New York City, providing a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the production.

The "Commando" actor was seen waving and thanking drivers as he crossed the street, adding a touch of real-world warmth to his Santa-inspired look.

Filming that morning caused traffic delays on 5th Avenue, where Schwarzenegger was spotted crossing the street and interacting with the public.

Another moment showed Schwarzenegger looking serious while sharing a scene with Ritchson. The "Terminator" actor also described in his Facebook post that New York was an "amazing host," praising its festive atmosphere as the perfect setting for the film.

He also expressed his excitement about working with Amazon on the project, adding, "I can't wait to share all of this Christmas cheer with each and every one of you."

The unexpected reveal sparked curiosity and excitement for the film, which promised to show a lighter, festive side of the Hollywood legend. Fans were eager to see Schwarzenegger take on this heartwarming holiday role.

"The Man with the Bag" follows a whimsical, action-packed storyline. When Santa's magical bag is stolen, he enlists Vance, a former thief on his "naughty list," to help retrieve it. The film combines Schwarzenegger's charisma with the holiday spirit for an entertaining adventure.

This marks Arnold Schwarzenegger's return to Christmas films after nearly three decades. His last festive movie, "Jingle All the Way (1996)," became a beloved holiday classic.

In the film, he played a father desperately trying to find a Turbo Man action figure for his son on Christmas Eve. The movie featured a strong cast, including Phil Hartman, Sinbad, Rita Wilson, Robert Conrad, and Martin Mull.