‘Feels lucky’ Reacher sequel has strong female role: Cruise

Hollywood star Tom Cruise feels lucky that his latest movie Jack Reacher: Never Go Back lead actor Cobi Smulders has a strong role.

The 54-year-old actor plays the all-action ex-military man Reacher in the 2012 film’s sequel and is delighted Smulders, who stars as Army major Susan Turner, “embodies” a powerful woman character, which is something Hollywood blockbusters lack in, reported Female First. 

Cruise, who was a producer on the title, said, “I feel really lucky that we have Cobi because she is someone who really embodies it, you know she’s got to play a major, she plays Jack reachers equal and also she was the Commander.

“And she just embodied that character beautifully, she’s got incredible intelligence and power. And great physical ability that she really worked on in the movie.” 

Smulders rose to fame starring in comedy sitcom ‘How I Met Your Mother’ and went on to play a SHIELD agent Maria Hill in the Avengers franchise, and said the gap between the number of strong roles for men and women is closing.

Talking about his return to the role and the similarities between him and his character, Cruise told BANG Showbiz: “He’s a character that travels around a lot and I do the same in my real life. I’m always working - I work seven days a week - I’m usually shooting one film while I’m doing  post-production of another and prepping the next one.”