Never one to shy away from controversy, Tom Cruise, below, has agreed to play Jack Reacher in “One Shot,” an action thriller based on the best-selling series of books by Lee Child, according toDeadline.com. Reacher, a decorated military officer turned drifter, is described in the novels as standing 6 foot 5 and weighing 250 pounds; Mr. Cruise’s reported height is 5 foot 7. The physical discrepancy has already created some discontent among fans of the series, though Mr. Child has publicly supported the casting. “Reacher’s size in the books is a metaphor for an unstoppable force, which Cruise portrays in his own way,” he said. The movie, which is scheduled to begin filming in the fall, will be directed byChristopher McQuarrie, whose writing credits include “Valkyrie” and the coming “Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol,” both starring Mr. Cruise.

In the wise words of a friend of mine; this must be stopped.