SUMMARY

Olivier Richters’ casting as Paulie in Reacher season 3 brings a formidable and towering villain to challenge Jack Reacher on a new level.
With Richters standing at 7 feet 2 inches and weighing close to 350 pounds, the showdown between him and Alan Ritchson’s Reacher promises intense action.
The choice of Richters rectifies season 2’s shortcomings by introducing a character who can genuinely challenge and overpower the invincible Jack Reacher.

Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher and Olivier Richters as Paulie in Reacher Season 3

The casting choice for Reacher season 3’s most anticipated antagonistic character has finally been confirmed, and it could have been more perfect. Adapting Lee Child’s Persuader, the seventh book in the Jack Reacher series, Reacher season 3 is going back to the show’s roots by portraying the titular character as a lone wolf.

Although Reacher season 2’s portrayal of the main character working in a team had its own merits, the series seems way more grounded and unique when it depicts Jack Reacher as a self-reliant and solitary figure who takes pride in being a hobo.

Apart from walking through a solo Reacher adventure and highlighting his resourcefulness and tactical prowess, Reacher season 3 will offer another fascinating element: it will feature one of Jack Reacher’s most daunting enemies, Paulie. Owing to this Paulie’s appearance, casting him was going to be a headache for the show’s creators. Fortunately, they have chosen the perfect actor, Olivier Richters, for the role, making Reacher season 3 even more exciting.

Olivier Richters Is As Tall As The Original Paulie In Lee Child’s Persuader

Olivier Richters Stands At 7 Feet 2 Inches

Olivier Richters as Warehouse Guy Holding Up His Arms and Roaring in Ravers Olivier Richters as Hauke Running Through a Crowded Parade Route in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Olivier Richters as Ursa Arm Wrestling with David Harbour as Red Guardian in Black Widow Olivier Richters as a Guard Manning His Post Behind Daniel Bruhl in The King's Man
Olivier Richters Staring Down an Opponent in Knuckledust

Many viewers were curious to know who would play Paulie in Reacher season 3 because, in appearance, the character is even more intimidating than Jack Reacher.

In Lee Child’s Persuader, Paulie is around 7 feet tall and heavily muscle-bound. Since Jack Reacher in Lee Child’s novels is 6 feet 5 inches tall, Paulie towers over him in Persuader and proves to be one of his toughest enemies. By casting Olivier Richters as Paulie in Reacher season 3, it seems like the show has outdone even the original book’s depiction of the villain.

… Reacher season 3’s Paulie is not only as colossal as the original villain from the Lee Child book, but also nearly a foot taller than the show’s Jack Reacher.

Rightfully known as “The Dutch Giant,” Olivier Richters stands at a towering 7 feet 2 inches. Since Alan Ritchson’s height is close to 6 feet 2 inches, Reacher season 3’s Paulie is not only as colossal as the original villain from the Lee Child book but also nearly a foot taller than the show’s Jack Reacher. Throughout Reacher seasons 1 and 2, Alan Ritchson’s character towered over everyone else, which makes it interesting that, in season 3, a character will make him look relatively small.

Olivier Richters’ Massive Stature Makes Him A Formidable Villain Against Alan Ritchson’s Reacher

Olivier Ricthers Weighs Close To 350 Pounds

Ursa-Major-Arm-Wrestling-Red-Guardian-Wide Alan-Ritchson-as-Jack-Reacher-from-Reacher--3 Alan Ritchson glares menacingly, his face bloodied, in a scene from Reacher season 2 Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher in a Diner in Reacher Season 2 Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher Wearing Medical Scrubs in Reacher Season 2

One of the biggest issues with Reacher season 2 was that none of the villains seemed formidable enough against Alan Ritchson’s almost invincible Jack Reacher. As Olivier Richters’ casting suggests, Reacher season 3 will not encounter the same problem.

Crowned as the “tallest professional bodybuilder” in the 2021 Guinness World Records, Olivier Richters weighs close to 350 pounds (160 kg), making him an imposing and credible threat to Jack Reacher, even though Alan Ritchson has been packing on more muscle with each Reacher season.

Since Reacher has not had much trouble putting his enemies down in seasons 1 and 2, Paulie’s perfect casting brings a new level of excitement to the third installment of the Amazon series. It affirms that Jack Reacher will finally face someone who can genuinely challenge and even overpower him in a one-on-one fistfight. How Reacher season 3 will execute the showdown between the two giant actors is yet to be seen. However, it is hard not to look forward to how Olivier Richters’ casting will rectify season 2’s shortcomings and effectively raise the stakes for the titular character.

Other Shows & Movies Olivier Richters Has Appeared In

Richters Has More Than 10 Acting Credits Under His Belt

Black Widow Ursa Major Olivier Richters

Born on 5 September 1989, Olivier Richters started his acting career in 1991 with the Dutch miniseries De zomer van ’45. Almost two decades after his debut, he returned to acting in 2013 and starred in the fantasy comedy Points of View.

Since then, the actor, model, and bodybuilder has appeared in several renowned films and shows, like Black Widow, Gangs of London, Miami Heat, The King’s Man, and Indian Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Apart from playing the villain in Reacher season 3, The Dutch Giant will also be seen as Krom in the upcoming video game adaptation, Borderlands.