AceShowbiz -

Paramount Pictures and Skydance Media have announced that the second installment of "Jack Reacher" has commenced principal photography in New Orleans. The sequel, which was formerly known as "Jack Reacher 2", is now officially called "Jack Reacher: Never Go Back".

Tom Cruise is back as the titular hero. The movie will reunite Cruise with Edward Zwick, who directed him in "The Last Samurai". Richard Wenk ("The Equalizer") and Marshall Herskovitz ("The Last Samurai") are tapped to write the screenplay of the movie which is based on Lee Child's 18th book in the "Jack Reacher" series, which was also titled "Never Go Back".

Cruise will be joined by the likes of Cobie Smulders, Danika Yarosh ("Heroes Reborn"), Patrick Heusinger ("Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce") and Aldis Hodge ("Straight Outta Compton") as well as newly-announced actors Holt McCallany ("Gangster Squad") and Austin Hebert ("Bonnie & Clyde") in the cast.

The upcoming movie is said to center on a former military policeman heading back to his old military base in Virginia only to deal with serious criminal consequences. "Jack Reacher: Never Go Back" is set to arrive in North America on October 21, 2016.