Alan Ritchson became a household name and the face of a rip-roaring franchise when he began portraying the silent-and-lethal titular character in the 2022 action crime sensation Reacher, an adaptation of the popular Lee Child novels that focuses on the perpetually wandering former U.S. Army military policeman as trouble seems to follow him everywhere he goes. The self-proclaimed hobo becomes caught up in one dangerous conspiracy after the next, defending the innocent and using his brute strength and extensive knowledge to take down one nefarious foe after the next.
Both a critical and commercial knockout with an action-packed third season currently airing, Reacher has completely captivated audiences all across the world with Ritchson’s phenomenal performances, gripping storylines, and colorful supporting characters. In October 2024, a spin-off starring Reacher’s fiercely loyal best friend Frances Neagley was officially announced to be in the works at the streaming service, with Maria Sten set to headline the highly-buzzed-about companion series. Let’s take a look at everything we know so far about Neagley.
Reacher
Release Date
February 3, 2022
Network
Prime Video
Showrunner
Nick Santora
Who Will Be Starring in the Spin-off Series ‘Neagley’?
After her fan-favorite performance as Jack Reacher’s ultimate confidante and loyal ally Frances Neagley in the smash-hit action crime sensation Reacher, Maria Sten will be going off on her own adventure when she headlines the upcoming spin-off series Neagley. The brilliant and fiercely independent private investigator was introduced in the first season of the television adaptation of the exhilarating Lee Child novels, though the character does not actually show up in The Killing Floor (the source for the season). Not only will Sten be starring in her own show, but she currently appears in the rip-roaring third season of the streaming knockout Reacher and will continue to cross paths with her behemoth of a best friend (much to the relief of devoted fans).
Joining Neagley in the spin-off is an entirely new cast of intriguing characters, with Detective Hudson Riley (Greyston Holt), Renee (Adeline Rudolph), Keno (Jasper Jones), Pierce Woodrow (Matthew Del Negro), and Lawrence Cole (Damon Herriman) all starring alongside Sten as series regulars. Though their respective backgrounds and connections to Neagley have yet to be revealed, audiences will be happy to know that many of the newcomers have an impressive history with working on electrifying small screen staples, as Herriman notably appeared in Justified and Mindhunter, Del Negro in Mayor of Kingstown and Teen Wolf, and Rudolph in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
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The Creative Team Behind the Upcoming Spin-Off
For any fans worried that the spin-off won’t be able to capture the thrills and magic of its epic predecessor, fear not as Reacher mastermind and showrunner Nick Santora will also be an executive producer and co-showrunner for Neagley, doing so along with writer and fellow producer Nicholas Wootton (Prison Break, NYPD Blue). The man behind the bestselling series, Lee Child himself, will also be involved in the companion crime drama, just like he is with Reacher, which will likely ensure that the show maintains the same gripping tone and top-tier storytelling audiences have come to know and love.
Neagley was officially greenlit in October 2024 after previous reports hinted at an untitled project featuring Neagley was in the works, with Amazon MGM Studios head of television Vernon Sanders commenting that the new series “will not only honor the Reacher legacy but also bring fresh energy and excitement to new and longtime fans alike.” Similarly, Santora and Wootton released their own statement confirming their involvement in Neagley while expressing their pleasure at being able to explore the mysterious character’s origins and little-known backstory, stating:
“Lee Child created an immensely rich character with Neagley, and Maria Sten brought her to life in such a vivid, authentic way in Reacher. Amazon, Skydance Television, and CBS Studios have been tremendous partners from the start, and we are excited to explore Neagley’s story further and dive into what makes her so unique.”
What Is the Premise of ‘Neagley’?
Neagley will follow the savvy Chicago private investigator as she investigates the suspicious death of a dear friend from her past after they are killed in a suspicious accident, with the determined character making it her mission to get to the bottom of the shocking tragedy by any means necessary. Relying on the impressive skill set she learned while serving as a member of the 110 Special Investigators as well as working closely alongside Jack Reacher, Neagley finds herself attracting unwanted attention from dangerous threats while on her noble quest to uncover the truth and serve up cold, hard justice.
Sten shared her overwhelming excitement and elation at being able to dive deeper into her resourceful character’s origins during an appearance at the Prime Video Presents: Trailblazers event in October 2024, telling the audience: “I love Neagley. She’s so fun to play, she’s so quirky and has so much complexity…I read all the books that she was in… I got into what I felt was her psyche.” The charismatic actress also made sure to reassure fans that the spin-off will tip its hat to Reacher’s impact and legacy while also delivering its own unique Neagley flair and touch:
“It’s still ‘Reacher.’ It’s still fun, splashy action and quick dialogue but it has something that’s Neagley, not Reacher. It’s the same fun tone but [the writers] make it its own.”
Will Alan Ritchson Reprise His Role as Reacher?
Perhaps the biggest question on the minds of curious fans is whether or not the man, the myth, and the legend, Alan Ritchson, will reprise his career-defining role as the beloved self-proclaimed hobo in the companion series. According to a report by Deadline, Reacher and Neagley are set to share the screen once again outside of the current third season of Reacher, with Ritchson slated to appear as a guest star in Neagley. Audiences quickly fell in love with the palpable chemistry shared between Ritchson and Sten throughout the streaming sensation’s thrilling seasons, with the pair becoming the ultimate crime-fighting duo.
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Filming of Neagley officially commenced in Toronto on February 18, 2025 and is expected to conclude in June, though there is no official release date for the spin-off series. In an interview with Screen Time, Sten confirmed that production was about to be underway but was unable to reveal any further plot details. She nonetheless offered an exciting update about what fans can expect from the highly-anticipated Prime Video original and how it will connect to Reacher:
“It’s very much Neagley in her world and I guess you do see her in Chicago when you meet her in season three, so in that way we establish she has a world outside of Reacher when she isn’t going off on crazy missions to help him. Or when I’m not enlisting him to find our friends. I think you do find her in her own universe and I think that maybe is what will help us tie into this show.”
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