Upamanyu Biswas
In Edward Zwick’s ‘Jack Reacher: Never Go Back,’ the titular protagonist goes on the run with Major Susan Turner of the Military Police and his supposed biological daughter, Samantha. After getting involved in a major conspiracy involving the partnership between Parasource, a private military contractor, and the Army, Reacher and his team become fugitives of the law as they are hunted down by those who want to keep their secrets hidden from the public eye. The group looks to lay low by traveling to New Orleans, Louisiana, where they find a vacancy at the Hotel Dauphin. Subsequently, the hotel becomes a vital base of their operations as they continue their investigation, as it provides them cozy sleeping quarters while also keeping them safe from those who are looking to hurt them!
Hotel Dauphin is a Fictional Hotel
Hotel Dauphin in ‘Jack Reacher: Never Go Back’ is a fictional hotel created by Edward Zwick and his co-writers Richard Wenk and Marshall Herskovitz, who wrote the film based on Lee Child’s 2013 novel of the same name. After being chased by the forces of Parasource and the military, Reacher, Turner, and Samantha find a safe haven at the New Orleans hotel, where they assume a low profile while hunting down Daniel Prudhomme, a person of interest in the investigation that led to the deaths of Turner’s officers. Situated at the heart of the Big Easy, the establishment is part of the French Quarter, which adds to the city’s historic and cultural diversity. It also plays a significant role in the story, as it hosts several important discussions between the central characters, some even relating to their personal lives.
Although the Hotel Dauphin is a fictional establishment, a hotel with a similar name exists in New Orleans: Dauphine Orleans Hotel at 415 Dauphine Street. The establishment’s architecture features a Creole cottage-style design and has been part of the city’s history since the 1800s. Owing to its longstanding existence, it is often associated with hauntings, which adds to its appeal. Despite the similarity in their names, the Hotel Dauphin in the action thriller is different from the real-life hotel due to its location at 1018 Royal Street. According to the narrative, the fictional hotel is located on one of New Orleans’ most venerated French Quarter roads. In reality, an apartment can be found at 1018 Royal Street rather than a hotel.
The filming of the movie took place in New Orleans, where it was a challenge to bring to life the three narrative settings of Oklahoma, Washington, D.C., and New Orleans simultaneously. The 2015 Krewe of Boo parade, the Halloween parade seen outside the hotel’s balcony, was shot during the actual event, along with some re-creations later. Therefore, while the hotel may not exist in reality, its significance in the film is highlighted through the high-stakes game of hide and seek played between Reacher and his pursuers. Although it aids the titular protagonist in finding some safety, its genesis is fictional.
Read More: Review: ‘Jack Reacher: Never Go Back’ is a Formulaic Action Thriller
