Reacher is one of the most popular shows currently running, and Netflix’s Reacher replacement won’t be able to use Amazon’s best book trick. Reacher has consistently been a hit since season 1 was released back in 2022, with both currently-released seasons doing big numbers for Amazon. Because of this, it isn’t surprising that Netflix is looking to respond to Reacher‘s success, but their version does have one big problem.
Amazon Prime Video’s Reacher is the acclaimed adaptation of Lee Child’s iconic Jack Reacher book series, with the action spy thriller gaining a major audience. Netflix is attempting to release a similar show in March 2024, with The Night Agent being an action spy thriller based on a novel by Matthew Quirk. While The Night Agent season 1 could be great, moving past that point gives Netflix an additional challenge that Reacher doesn’t have to worry about.
How Many The Night Agent Books There Are (& What Season 2 Could Be About)
The Night Agent season 2 is happening, raising the question of how many more Peter Sutherland stories there are for the Netflix show to cover.
The Night Agent Doesn’t Have Other Books To Adapt
The biggest problem with Netflix’s The Night Agent is that the series doesn’t have other books to adapt, something that Reacher doesn’t have a problem with. The Night Agent is the first installment in Matthew Quirk’s Peter Sutherland series, with a sequel to the 2019 book not being released as of the writing of this article. Because of this, there isn’t anywhere for the show to go after adapting the first book.
Reacher, on the other hand, has plenty of options to choose from, with 28 Jack Reacher books currently out. Because of this and the rate at which they are released, it will be very difficult for the show to run out of material to cover. While The Night Agent could adapt Quirk’s other books, they don’t involve the same characters, meaning that moving forward after season 1 will be incredibly difficult.
Why Not Having Other Peter Sutherland Stories Is Good For The Night Agent
Although The Night Agent is the only Peter Sutherland story that is out, this might actually be good for the Netflix show. Even readers of the book have no idea where The Night Agent season 2 could go, making the show far more unpredictable from its Amazon Prime Video counterpart. Quirk could also take the series into account when writing a sequel, better setting up future seasons.
The Night Agent: 10 Biggest Changes To The Original Book
The Night Agent was a major success on Netflix, with season 2 in the works, but season 1 made some big changes to Matthew Quirk’s original novel.
Not having a second Peter Sutherland book also helps Netflix avoid a problem that Amazon Prime Video faces with Reacher. The discussions about which book will be adapted next have defined much of the show’s discourse, distracting from the stories that it is currently telling. Reacher has a set number of already-established paths forward, while Netflix’s The Night Agent has infinite possibilities.
