Tom Cruise Is 'Too Old' for Jack Reacher, Says Author Lee Child

Just last year he helmed , the sixth entry in a series that started in 1996; despite and odd rumors about the ( ), Fallout was the most critically and commercially successful Mission: Impossible film so far.

All of which is to say that Tom Cruise knows how to be an action star. But hes also 57 years old. And according to best-selling author Lee Child, its time for Cruise to hang up his spurs. Speaking to about his decision to end the Cruise-helmed Jack Reacher film franchise after two installments, Child said, It sounds extremely patronizing, but I think its good for him. Hes too old for this stuff.

He went on to say, Hes 57, he needs to move on, transition to being a character actor. He could get another 20 years out of it. He is talented. Hes a terrific guy, very considerate, good fun. (Its not clear whether Child has noticed Liam Neeson, Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone, and the .)

Child also pointed out that Cruise stands 58 on a good day, while the fictional Jack Reacher is a brawny 65 in the books. The height difference part of Childs decision to pull the plug on future Reacher movies and instead go make a TV series starring a different, presumably taller actor. Well see whether Cruise takes his advice to stop hanging out of helicopters and settle into doing more character work.