Does the DC Universe already have its Batman? Reacher star Alan Ritchson reveals what it would take to get him to play the Caped Crusader on the silver screen.
Alan Ritchson has been absolutely blowing up in the past few years. The actor’s role in Reacher has made him a household name across the country. And given his physique and history with the DC Universe, having playing both Aquaman and Hawk in prior projects, this has meant an absolute mudslide of fancasts for the actor when it comes to the big screen reboot of the franchise. While he’s been floated for quite a number of roles, one has managed to stand far above the rest: Batman.
The Reacher star actually spoke out about these fancasts and rumors during a recent appearance on the WIRED’s Web’s Most Searched Questions. When speaking about the idea of him joining the DC Universe as Batman, Alan Ritchson remarked how insane it is that James Gunn himself had to shut down rumors he was already cast as the hero. However, that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t jump at playing the character if given the chance.
“What’s amazing to me about this rumor of the Batman or the Batman desire and the zeitgeist is the fact that James Gunn has personally announced publicly on his Twitter or X or whatever, ‘LOL, he’s not playing Batman. He is not playing Batman!’ And this thing will not die.”
“I get asked every day if I’m playing Batman. Yeah, would I play Batman? Yes. Would I pay handsomely to be Batman? You wouldn’t even have to pay me to be Batman. I would, yeah, I would don the suit. ‘Gotham is mine.’ Look at that. I don’t even have to practice. It just comes out naturally.”
Is Alan Ritchson Playing Batman?
The Reacher star certainly has quite a lot of “pros” when it comes to considering him to play Batman in the DC Universe. For one, the man is built like a brick house, making him perfectly able to portray the physicality of the character. He also has a long history of comedy with projects like Blue Mountain State and Lazer Team, allowing him to play a version of the Caped Crusader that could adapt to any project set in the reboot.
Of course, Alan Ritchson also has some “cons” when it comes to the character. For one, the Reacher star is 42, over a decade senior of David Corenswet, who plays Superman in the DC Universe. Given the characters are often seen as a duo, especially in team-ups, it’d be odd to see Batman so much older than the Man of Steel. He also has a remarkably full plate. Reacher aside, he’s also involved with the Blue Mountain State sequel series and Fast X: Part 2. So while not impossible for him to play the hero, this packed schedule would certainly provide its own challenges.
Batman: The Brave and The Bold is currently in development at DC Studios. Stay tuned for the latest news regarding the future of the DC Universe and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content!
