Alan Ritchson Clears the Air on Batman Casting After Talking With James Gunn
As DC Studios continues shaping the future of the DC Universe, one looming question still hangs in the Batcave… Who will wear the cape and cowl in The Brave and the Bold?
With The Batman Epic Crime Saga starring Robert Pattinson off in its own gritty sandbox, James Gunn has to thread the needle in crafting a fresh, standalone take on the Dark Knight that sets itself apart. A big part of that puzzle is casting, and Reacher star Alan Ritchson has become a fan-favorite pick for the role.
During a recent chat with Variety, Ritchson addressed the ongoing speculation about him stepping into the Bat-suit:
“Well, it’s not rumor that James Gunn is a fan. He said it himself. And am I a fan of James Gunn? Absolutely. I don’t want to mislead people.
“Words have been exchanged about Batman. But I strongly don’t think that Batman is in my future. I do think there is something in my future with DC. And I would like that to remain true.”
The buzz around Ritchson as Batman picked up serious steam thanks to his commanding presence on Reacher, where he’s already proven he has the physicality, intensity, and action chops that fans associate with Gotham’s vigilante.
Not to mention, he once declared he’d play Batman for free. That kind of passion gets noticed, especially by someone like Gunn, who has publicly called himself a “big fan” of Ritchson’s work.
Still, don’t expect to see him brooding on rooftops just yet. Gunn, when asked about Ritchson’s potential as Batman, kept it cryptic with a “let’s just wait and see what happens.”
But considering The Brave and the Bold is still in the script stage and won’t hit theaters until 2028 at the earliest, the wait could be long.
Gunn has already said he doesn’t want The Brave and the Bold to debut in the same year as The Batman Part II, and with Matt Reeves also eyeing a third film in his trilogy, there’s a tight dance ahead to keep both Batmen in their respective lanes.
Ritchson’s latest comments feel pretty definitive though. “I strongly don’t think that Batman is in my future” doesn’t sound like someone playing it coy. While that may bum out fans who were rooting for him, there’s still a silver lining.
He clearly remains open to teaming up with DC in some other capacity. With Gunn building a universe from the ground up and multiple projects in the works, there’s room for Ritchson to jump into the action even if it’s not as Batman.
DC Studios is only planning to release one or two films per year, so timing is tight. With Superman moving forward, and titles like Wonder Woman also in development, The Brave and the Bold won’t hit the front burner for a while. But the DCU is vast, and Ritchson could easily find a home in another iconic role.
Whether it’s Gotham or beyond, it sounds like the door is wide open for Ritchson to join the DCU, just not from the Batcave.