Batman Favorite Alan Ritchson Reveals What He Needs to Join the DCU, And Confirms “A Lot” of Conversations
Unfortunately, the wait to see Robert Pattinson return as Batman in Matt Reeves’ The Batman: Part II just got a little longer, which means the wait to meet the DC Universe’s Batman has gotten a little longer. But changes to the Warner Bros. release schedule haven’t stopped fans from speculating about who could play the Caped Crusader in James Gunn’s shared universe. Since the initial DCU slate was announced a few years ago, many have offered their choices, with Reacher star Alan Ritchson emerging as a popular pick. The actor has previously shared that he’s had talks with DC Studios in the past, and now he’s revealed his one condition for jumping aboard.
During an appearance on the podcast Happy Sad Confused, Ritchson was asked about the persistent Batman rumors. “There’s so much to unpack here that you don’t even know,” he said laughing. “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. I pick the s*** out of projects. I know how to develop a project. And anything I do with DC will still meet my standards. It’ll have to meet my standards. And I hope that we work on something that feels like we’re all making the movie I would be proud of.”
As a follow-up, host Josh Horowitz asked if Ritchson wanted a “seat at the table” as part of the creative process. “If it would help, yeah,” the actor replied. “There could be a bright future for us, and there have been a lot of conversations.” He stopped short of revealing who his dream character would be and whether or not it is Batman.
Will Alan Ritchson Join the DC Universe Soon?
Ritchson has outlined his specifics for joining the DC Universe in the past, saying that he doesn’t want to play a “clean-cut protagonist.” He has something particular in mind, and even though he’s a fan of Gunn’s work, he isn’t going to sign on for anything just so they can collaborate. Ritchson’s mindset is understandable. As an actor, he wants to feel passionate about the character he’s portraying and feel like the film he’s making is a worthwhile addition to his filmography. Actors have gotten multiple bites at the comic book apple before, but Ritchson seems dedicated to making a memorable impression the first time around, perhaps believing this is his best shot to leave an impact on the genre. This means he’s putting a lot of thought into things.
It seems as if whether or not Ritchson ultimately joins the DCU will depend on the quality of the scripts or pitches he reads. The onus will be on DC Studios to present him with compelling material that’s appealing to his sensibilities. Batman could definitely fit the mold of what the actor is looking for. Gunn has previously described the DCU’s Batman as “a f—ing maniac,” so it sounds like that would satisfy Ritchson’s desire to play someone who isn’t “clean-cut.” Ritchson certainly has the screen presence and build to be an intimidating Batman, which is why he’s emerged as such a popular fan cast in the early days of the DCU.
As exciting as the prospect of Ritchson playing Batman is, it’s important to keep in mind that signing on for a DCU role would represent a big-time commitment from the actor. In contrast from Reeves’ Batman Epic Crime Saga, which takes place in its own separate continuity, the DCU is a shared universe, meaning Ritchson could be expected to become a recurring player in the larger franchise — especially if he’s playing a character as prominent as Batman. Next summer’s Man of Tomorrow will be David Corenswet’s third appearance as Superman in three years. It’ll be interesting to see if Ritchson would be up for something like that. In the past, some actors have been leery about joining shared universes because of the multi-project contracts that come with the territory, limiting opportunities for other creative endeavors. Ritchson could be interested in a specific movie, but not the overarching franchise as a whole.
Gunn has spoken about his desire to do Elseworlds projects that are set outside of the mainline DCU continuity. With the exception of Pattinson’s Batman, no such movies or shows have been green lit yet, and there’s no guarantee they ever will. Right now, DC Studios has to focus on getting the DCU on stable footing before they worry about Elseworlds (a concept that, while fascinating, could confuse general audiences who aren’t as familiar with comic book lore). However, if Elseworlds ever does get off the ground, maybe that could be the avenue for Ritchson, taking part in an intriguing one-off that provides an engaging twist on classic superhero mythos.
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