(Photo: Skydance Television, Amazon)
Joe Manganiello (pictured below, right), who played high-school bully Flash Thompson in Marvel's "Spider-Man" and Deathstroke in DC's "Justice League," released his memoir "Bloodlines" this week, opening up about his private life and Hollywood career. In one bombshell passage, the actor claims he had been tapped to lead Amazon's "Reacher" before Tom Cruise—the star and producer of the film franchise—may have stepped in to block his casting over a personal grudge.
(Photo: Pinterest)
Manganiello wrote that Amazon executives had initially zeroed in on him to play Jack Reacher, praising his towering, muscular build as the closest match they had seen to the character described in Lee Child's novels. Showrunner Nick Santora had reportedly begun writing the series with Manganiello in mind, while Skydance Television founder David Ellison and Child were both impressed by his audition.
(Photo: Pinterest)
The role ultimately went to another imposing actor, Alan Ritchson, leaving Manganiello stunned. His representatives reportedly suspected that Cruise had intervened and vetoed the casting. Their theory stemmed from Cruise's past relationship with Manganiello's now-ex-wife, Sofía Vergara (pictured above, left), leading them to believe jealousy and lingering resentment may have played a part.
Vergara previously said she and Cruise only went on three dates and were never seriously involved. Cruise also had no known role in producing the "Reacher" series and does not hold an official credit on the show, making it entirely possible that Manganiello and his team simply misread the situation.