Alan Ritchson has built a career on playing larger-than-life characters, but the road to becoming Jack Reacher wasn’t exactly smooth. Long before he became Prime Video’s unstoppable Jack Reacher, he came incredibly close to landing one of the biggest superhero roles ever: Thor.
Now, Ritchson is looking ahead to another possible comic book future. The actor has confirmed that he’s been talking with James Gunn about the DC Universe, but he’s making one thing clear. If he joins the DCU, it won’t be just because a role is available. It has to be the right project, the right character, and something he genuinely believes in.
Ritchson’s superhero journey actually began years ago when he played Aquaman on Smallville. He later suited up as Hawk in Titans, but despite those fan-favorite appearances, he’s never headlined a major superhero movie.
That almost changed when Marvel Studios was casting Thor. Speaking with Josh Horowitz, Ritchson looked back on the audition that could have changed everything.
Rather than brushing it off, he admitted it was one of the most valuable learning experiences of his career because the feedback he received forced him to rethink his approach to acting.
“That was less an ‘Is that so?’ moment, [because] I got terrible feedback. It was constructive in the sense that the casting director felt like I was such a sure thing if I just ‘had the craft,’ as she put it. I didn’t show up that day ready. This is never going to happen again, and sometimes we need that.”
Instead of letting the disappointment define him, he used it as motivation to improve. “The question is, is our ego going to get in the way? I could have said anything, but I was like, ‘I’m never going to let that happen again,'” Ritchson explained.
“I took a step back from the business to learn what the craft means, and man, am I better for it, and my work is better for it. I’m grateful for that tough day.”
Of course, the role ultimately went to Chris Hemsworth, whose performance launched him into global stardom as the God of Thunder. Looking back now, it’s hard to imagine either actor on the other’s career path, but it’s interesting to think about how differently things could have played out.
These days, Ritchson has become one of the most popular fan-casting choices for Batman in DC Studios’ upcoming The Brave and the Bold. Fans have campaigned for him ever since Reacher showed off his physical presence and commanding screen presence.
When asked about the possibility of joining Gunn’s DCU, Ritchson confirmed there have already been plenty of conversations.
“James Gunn and I have spoken a lot.” After a long pause, he was pressed specifically about Batman before offering a response that left plenty open to interpretation.
“There’s so much to unpack here that you don’t even know. You don’t know what you’re asking for. I really respect James. I would like to do something with James. James would like to do something with me, but my litmus test for what I will take is strict.”
For Ritchson, accepting a role is about much more than wearing a cape or joining a massive franchise. He’s become extremely selective about the projects he signs onto.
“I pick the shit out of projects. I know how to develop a project, and anything I do with DC will still meet my standards, right? It’ll have to meet my standards, and I hope that we work on something that feels like we’re all making this movie that I would be proud of,” Ritchson continued, confirming that he would like to be involved creatively “if it would help.”
He also hinted that conversations with Gunn have been productive and revealed that he already has a specific DC character in mind.
“There could be a bright future for us, and there have been a lot of conversations. Look, the future is bright, and the horizons are broad, and anything is possible for any of us, okay?”
While fans continue hoping he’ll become the DCU’s Batman, his comments make it sound like nothing is set in stone. In fact, they almost suggest that the Caped Crusader might not be the destination everyone assumes.
What does seem clear is that Ritchson isn’t interested in accepting just any DC role simply to get into the franchise. He wants a character he connects with and a creative team making a movie he believes in. Given how carefully he’s choosing projects at this stage of his career, that approach makes a lot of sense.
If Batman isn’t in the cards, there are still plenty of characters who could be a perfect fit. Deathstroke immediately comes to mind, but the DCU has no shortage of powerhouse characters who could benefit from Ritchson’s mix of physicality, charisma, and dramatic presence.
Whatever Gunn and Ritchson have been discussing, it sounds like the conversation is far from over.
