Olivier Richters on Reacher Season 3: Behind the Brutal Battles with Alan Ritchson

How Olivier Richters transformed into Paulie for Reacher season 3’s most intense fights.

The third season of Reacher has arrived on Prime Video, delivering high-octane action and intense fight sequences that fans have come to expect from the hit series. Based on Persuader, the seventh novel in Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series, the new season finds Alan Ritchson’s titular hero diving into a dangerous underworld to rescue an undercover DEA informant while confronting ghosts from his past.

Returning alongside Ritchson is Maria Sten as Frances Neagley. At the same time, a stellar new cast joins the fray, including Anthony Michael Hall as Zachary Beck, Sonya Cassidy as Susan Duffy, Brian Tee as Quinn, and Johnny Berchtold as Richard Beck.

However, one newcomer has particularly caught the attention of audiences—Olivier Richters, the Dutch actor and bodybuilder who plays Paulie, a towering enforcer who physically dwarfs even the imposing Jack Reacher.

The Ultimate Titan Showdown

Richters, who stands at a staggering 7-foot-2, brings a formidable presence to Reacher Season 3. In an exclusive interview, he shared insights into the grueling preparation for his role, which included four months of intense stunt training. Despite the rigorous rehearsals, some on-set mishaps were unavoidable—including an accidental punch to Ritchson himself.

“The scary thing is if two Titans go full out, we will always try to miss, but with so many fight scenes, something will go wrong eventually,” Richters said. “I even had my tooth go through my lip, lost toenails, and dealt with inflamed tendons. At the end of the battle, Alan and I were standing on a bridge for the final scene, and we just hugged it out. We both agreed it was the toughest thing we’ve ever done.”

Ritchson, known for his dedication to realism in fight sequences, encouraged Richters to go all out. “Alan’s so die-hard. He knows, ‘I can heal from this, so suck up the pain and let’s do it,’” Richters explained. “We both realized that millions of people would see this, and we couldn’t hold back.”

Selling the Fight with Reacher on Screen

Playing an opponent of Reacher’s caliber required Richters to adjust his fighting style. “Every move Paulie makes needed to be a killer move. If it connected, Reacher would be done,” he said. “I had to learn how to make it look right on the screen, which meant bigger, more exaggerated motions rather than quick, tight movements like in real-life fighting.”

Richters also credited the Reacher team for helping him fine-tune Paulie’s character. “They brought in Carl, who worked on Venom and Avengers: Endgame, to help choreograph my fight style as a giant. When I arrived, the choreography was already set—I just had to learn it.”

Bringing Paulie to Life

As a longtime fan of Lee Child’s novels, Richters was thrilled by the reaction to his casting as Paulie. “Everyone was anticipating who would play Paulie, and when they saw the first photos, they were like, ‘That’s exactly how we pictured him!’” he said. “That meant a lot.”

Despite Paulie’s ruthless nature, Richters infused the character with his own sense of presence. “I brought my own giant’s confidence into Paulie. He’s calm and menacing—not just some hyped-up brute. But of course, he’s still psychotic,” Richters laughed. “I mean, he cuts off ears!”

The Future for Richters

Richters’ physicality and charisma have already landed him roles in major films like Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny, but he has his sights set on even bigger aspirations. “I’d love to play Colossus in a live-action X-Men movie or the son of Jaws in James Bond,” he revealed. “And honestly, watching Alan in action, I think he’d be a great Batman.”

For now, fans can catch Richters’ unforgettable performance as Paulie in Reacher Season 3, now streaming on Prime Video. With its brutal fight scenes and gripping storylines, this season is shaping up to be the best one yet.

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