![‘Reacher’ Season 3: Anthony Michael Hall Talks Villainy, Redemption, That Brutal Finale, John Hughes, Beetlejuice, and more [Bingeworthy Podcast]](https://cdn.theplaylist.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02214828/%E2%80%98Reacher-Season-3-Anthony-Michael-Hall-Talks-Villainy-Redemption-That-Brutal-Finale-John-Hughes-Beetlejuice-and-more-Bingeworthy-Podcast.jpg "‘Reacher’ Season 3: Anthony Michael Hall Talks Villainy, Redemption, That Brutal Finale, John Hughes, Beetlejuice, and more [Bingeworthy Podcast]")
On the latest episode of Bingeworthy, host Mike DeAngelo heads back into the fists-first world of “Reacher,” which just wrapped its action-packed third season on Prime Video. Based on Lee Child’s novel “Persuader,” this season sees Alan Ritchson return as the titular wrecking ball, going undercover to extract an informant—and settle an old score along the way. But while Reacher does plenty of punching, the emotional gut punches make this season stand out—especially those delivered by new cast member Anthony Michael Hall.
Yes, that Anthony Michael Hall—the ’80s teen comedy icon from “The Breakfast Club,” “Sixteen Candles,” and “Weird Science.” But here, Hall plays Zachary Beck, a Boston arms dealer with a complicated past and even more complex parenting instincts. What might sound like another mustache-twirling villain role is anything but.
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“There’s a real ticking clock to the story in this season,” Hall said. “You’re playing a guy who’s a criminal, but there’s also that chink in the armor. The dynamic with the son—I thought that was really powerful. It reminds me of Eugene O’Neill. All the great dramas, from Shakespeare forward, are about family.”
When it came to making Beck more than a stereotypical heavy, Hall said it was all about emotional honesty and subtlety. “He’s a guy who’s having a hard time forgiving himself. He’s estranged from his son and wants to be better, but he isn’t there for him. He’s racked with guilt,” he said. “One thing I try to do when playing a villain is insert some humor and humanize them that way. But, you know, I think it’s rare that you have a character like this, where it’s so dynamic in terms of what he represents…and then to have that other duality with the son—it was really cool. It was fun to explore.”
Spoiler alert for those who haven’t finished Season 3: Beck doesn’t exactly walk off into the sunset. The character found himself at the receiving end of many bullets at the hands of the main villain this season, Quinn. Still, his final scene left an impression—especially the tragic callback to a toy gun.
“Yeah. Kind of sad and pathetic thing, right?” Hall said. “But it’s interesting, too, because it’s symbolic of things traced back to his childhood—how he felt as a kid and had time to wander in the woods and be a kid and play cowboy. And, you know, at the same time, I think he’s realizing in that moment, like, ‘I didn’t allow you to be the kid that you needed to be,’ you know, because I wasn’t there for you, and I was pushing.”
When asked about preparing for that emotional finale, Hall credited an early acting teacher. “I had a teacher who always said, ‘Take from your partner,’” he explained. “So in that scene, I just really looked at [co-star Johnny Berchtold] and took it from there. I imagined what it would be like as a father—because I am a father now—to be dying in front of your kid. There’s nothing that you wouldn’t do for your own kid, you know.”
Of course, Hall has played his fair share of antagonists before—most famously in “Edward Scissorhands”—but this recent chapter in his career has added surprising new shades. “Honestly, I just always wanted to continue. When I was a kid working with John Hughes, I had this voice in my head that said, ‘You’re never going to give up.’ I’ve been doing this for almost 50 years now. That’s something I’m really grateful for.”
Speaking of Hughes, Hall shared some bittersweet memories of their legendary collaboration.
“He was my best friend on set. Either we were both 15, or I was 35, and he was 15—we just had this great friendship,” he said. “We would shoot the scene as written, but then he’d let you try things. He always had an ongoing discussion about the role. There was always a sense of play and playfulness about it all, which was really healthy.”
Hall even detailed how their longtime relationship soured when he wanted to branch out into other roles, turning down some surprising hit roles.
“John actually wrote ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ for me,” Hall revealed. “And he wanted me to do ‘Pretty in Pink,’ too. But at the time, I felt like the Ducky role was just another version of Farmer Ted, and I didn’t want to repeat myself. It was a tough decision, and sadly, it led to us parting ways. I think he may have misread it, but he was a sensitive guy.”
The Playlist Presents: Anthony Michael Hall’s Film/TV Recommendation Playlist:
- “Adolescence” (2024)
- “Severance” (2022–)
- “The Bear” (2022–)
“Reacher” Season 3 is now streaming on Prime Video.
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