Reacher season 3 is set to be the most intense and exciting so far, introducing several new characters to pose even more threats to the Amazon Prime show’s seemingly indestructible protagonist. Reacher season 2 ended with the separation of many of the show’s central characters, but given its anthology approach to storytelling, there’s plenty of room for them to return for a new adventure in season 3. The show is continually dragging Alan Ritchson’s Jack Reacher into increasingly dangerous situations, and judging by everything that is known about the third season, that won’t be changing any time soon.

The story of Reacher season 3 will be loosely inspired by Lee Child’s novel Persuader, which is one of the most popular and dynamic stories in the author’s long-running franchise. The book sees Reacher infiltrate a dangerous drug operation and rescue an undercover police officer from those who are beginning to suspect his true identity. It’s certainly one of Reacher’s most dangerous tasks, but it’s the perfect choice for the show’s next season as it introduces some of Child’s most powerful and villainous characters that pose real threats to Reacher and others’ safety.

3Francis Xavier Quinn

Played By Brian Tee

Francis Xavier Quinn is one of Jack Reacher’s most well-known adversaries, and he will make his on-screen debut in the TV adaptation’s third season. In the books, Quinn is described as a physically imposing army colonel who became the subject of Reacher’s investigations many years ago after selling weapons to enemy nations. His shared military history with Reacher and their complex dynamic will make him a formidable enemy in the show, particularly as the hero enters unknown territory and is forced to hide his true identity from those around him.

Quinn first appears in Persuader, making it immediately clear that Reacher season 3 will be sticking fairly closely to the narrative of this book. As there have been several instances in the show’s history of introducing characters before (or after) their entry points in the source material, it’s reassuring to die-hard fans to see that Quinn will hopefully be given the strong presence in this story that he deserves. Perhaps a downside, Persuader offers lower stakes for Reacher‘s third season, but figures like Quinn give it a much more interesting focus on character development.

Tee’s physical stature and commanding screen presence make him a perfect candidate for Quinn, who poses a real threat to Reacher in the books and must replicate the same intimidation on-screen.

Brian Tee, the actor cast as Quinn, is best known for playing Dr. Ethan Choi on Chicago Med and its multiple spinoffs, but the actor has also appeared in projects such as Jurassic World, The Wolverine, and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift over the course of his career. Therefore, he’s more than familiar with the cinematic world of action. Tee’s physical stature and commanding screen presence make him a perfect candidate for Quinn, who poses a real threat to Reacher in the books and must replicate the same intimidation on-screen.

2Zachary Beck

Played By Anthony Michael Hall

 Zachary Beck is also one of the main antagonists of Child’s Persuader novel, and will seemingly play the same role in Reacher‘s third season. He’s a powerful figure who’s suspected by the DEA of smuggling drugs through his carpet-selling business, and Reacher is tasked with infiltrating his operation to find undeniable proof of his crimes. While his search doesn’t immediately prove fruitful, it’s this trail that first leads him to Quinn’s scent and sets him on a quest for justice and vengeance.

Beck turns out to be a much more complex and multidimensional character than most of Reacher‘s villains, and he’s sure to make an interesting splash in the show’s third season, especially in contrast to the other new on-screen antagonists. Lead actor Alan Ritchson has already praised it as “by far the best season“ of the show, and much of that quality likely comes down to the complex dynamics between Reacher, Beck, and Quinn as this explosive narrative unfolds. Child’s writing is at its best in novels like Persuader, which exemplifies just how interesting Reacher can be as a protagonist under the right circumstances.

1Paul Masserella

Played By Olivier Richters

 Standing at over seven feet tall and weighing over 300 pounds, “Paulie” Masserella is likely the most intimidating figure that Reacher has ever (or will ever) faced off against. He’s one of the bodyguards working for Beck’s company and is among the first people to grow suspicious of Reacher when he tries to infiltrate the organization. Frances Neagley describes the character as “twice your size” to Jack Reacher in the trailer for season 3, and Olivier Richters is the perfect candidate to bring this comically strong character to life on-screen.

Although Paulie isn’t the main villain in Persuader , the character’s presence in the upcoming season’s marketing seems to indicate that he’ll be more important in the TV adaptation.

Although Paulie isn’t the main villain in Persuader, the character’s presence in the upcoming season’s marketing seems to indicate that he’ll be more important in the TV adaptation. The show could more closely explore Paulie’s relationship with Beck, using him as a clear obstacle that stands between Reacher and the answers that he’s looking for regarding Beck’s criminal activity. This would be an interesting way of lengthening the story for TV — and, of course, it would be great to see Reacher physically struggle against his opponents for once.

Richters is a Dutch bodybuilder and actor who’s put his physical talents to work in projects such as Black Widow, The Kings Man, and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. He also holds the record for being the world’s tallest bodybuilder, standing five inches taller than any other competitor. He seems like the perfect candidate to play this Reacher villain; Paulie is still an important character in the Reacher books because of his physical advantage over the protagonist, so it’s crucial that this comes across in the show too, all the while juggling the complexities of three connected villains.