Tom Cruise defended over role as giant detective

Author Lee Child has defended the choice of Tom Cruise to play Jack Reacher in the new film One Shot, despite the actor being nearly a foot shorter than the fictional tough guy detective .

TOM CRUISE WITH HIS 6'7" WIFE KATIE HOLMES, OR 'TREEHOUSE' AS SHE'S
AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS IN THE HOLLYWOOD INDUSTRY

One Shot is expected to start shooting in Pittsburgh later this year and although Cruise is only 5' 7" (in heels) Child said: "Reacher's size in the books is a metaphor for an unstoppable force, which Cruise portrays in his own way,"

Child's words are unlikely to placate some fans of the books, who have either expressed their dismay and anger over the choice - or resorted to mocking Cruise.

Reacher, the character who is a former graduate of West Point, is described in the books as being 6'5" and weighing 18 stone. His official description on Child's website says:

Measurements: 6'5", 220-250 lbs, 50" chest
Hair: Dirty-blond
Eyes: Ice blue
Clothing: 3XLT coat, 95 cm. pants' inseam

Blogs and social media sites were full of comments about the supposed miscasting. American author Tom Bergeron tweeted: "Novel Casting Dept: Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher. Could work, I suppose. On the radio"

DANNY DEVITO AND TOM CRUISE

Scottish author Ian Rankin tweeted: "The story that Tom Cruise may play Jack Reacher reminds me that Lawrence Block's white, male cat-burglar was filmed with Whoopi Goldberg"

Sky Sports News presenter Georgie Thompson wrote on Twitter: ‘Am i to believe what you're all tweeting; that Tom Cruise is to play Jack Reacher ? Seriously ? What !’

Fellow actor, Danny Devito called Cruise ' A giant of the Hollywood industry'.

Reacher has figured in 15 books which have sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. They are written by British author Jim Grant, who writes under the pen name Lee Child.

In One Shot - which will be directed by Christopher McQuarrie - Reacher investigates a case in which a lone sniper murders five victims. He is described in one book as being "built like a brick outhouse. Hands like shovels, face like a catcher's mitt."

Now does that sound like Tom Cruise?