‘One Piece’ Star Joe Manganiello Says He Nearly Starred in ‘Reacher’, and His Team Wondered Whether Tom Cruise Had a Hand in Losing It

Every Hollywood career is full of roles that almost happened. Some are lost to scheduling, some to budgets and some to the kind of behind-the-scenes politics that never become public. Joe Manganiello’s new memoir adds a fresh entry to that list, and it comes with a theory that is already drawing attention.

In ‘Bloodlines’, which was released this week, Manganiello writes that he came close to landing the lead in Amazon’s ‘Reacher‘. He also says his team later wondered whether Tom Cruise had influenced the decision, because of Cruise’s past connection to Sofía Vergara, Manganiello’s former wife. It is important to note that the claim is a suspicion, not an established fact.

Manganiello presented the idea as speculation from his representatives after he was told he did not get the part. He has not offered evidence that Cruise was involved, and no response from Cruise has been reported. Page Six said reps for Cruise did not get back to them.

Manganiello is 6 feet 5 inches tall, which matches the Jack Reacher described in Lee Child’s novels. He writes that he went through a long audition process and met Skydance executive Don Granger in January 2020 for about an hour and a half. During that conversation, they reportedly discussed the backlash over the size of Cruise, who played Reacher in 2 films, and the character’s towering stature in the books.

Granger reportedly told him he was the closest thing to the character that he had ever met. Manganiello also says Skydance owner David Ellison and author Lee Child were pleased with his performance, and that showrunner Nick Santora began shaping the scripts around him. After another screen test, he learned he would not be getting the role.

When the part went elsewhere, Manganiello writes, his team began to speculate about why. Their theory was that an executive producer on the show could have stepped in and vetoed his casting, and that Cruise might have done so because of Vergara. Cruise reportedly dated Vergara in 2005, years before she married Manganiello in 2015. The couple divorced in 2023.

There are good reasons to treat the theory cautiously. Cruise is not credited as an executive producer on the series, and he has no known official role in its production. Some coverage has noted that Vergara previously said she and Cruise went on only a few dates and were never seriously involved. That makes it entirely possible that Manganiello’s team simply misread the situation.

The ‘Reacher’ passage is only one part of a book that has been generating attention. ‘Bloodlines’ also covers Manganiello’s health struggles, and it includes claims about his marriage to Vergara. Earlier this week, he responded to comments made by Vergara and her son following revelations from the memoir.

He has also spoken about the disappointments of his career, including the scrapped plans for Deathstroke in the DC universe. In that context, the near miss on ‘Reacher’ fits a pattern he describes of big opportunities that never quite arrived. It is a theme that runs through his recent interviews.

Casting stories about almost-roles hold a special place in Hollywood lore, partly because they invite fans to imagine alternate versions of beloved projects. ‘Reacher’ has become a hit for Amazon, and fans have long debated how the character should be portrayed, especially in light of the physical differences between the books and the earlier movies. Manganiello’s account adds a new chapter to that conversation.

The Cruise element adds an extra layer of intrigue, though the available evidence stops well short of confirming anything. What the memoir does show is how the situation looked from Manganiello’s side: a promising audition process that ended abruptly, followed by questions his team could not answer. That human detail may be the most relatable part of the story.

For now, the ‘Reacher’ mystery appears unresolved. Unless Cruise or the production responds, the story will remain a one-sided account of a team trying to explain a disappointment. As with many revelations from memoirs, the important distinction is between what the author experienced and what can be independently verified.

Manganiello, meanwhile, continues his book promotion, and more details are likely to emerge in the days ahead. Whether any of them shed light on the casting decision remains to be seen.

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