As an actor, you know your career has truly taken off when movie fans start to fan-cast you in various superhero roles. And that’s exactly what’s been happening to Reacher star Alan Ritchson, whose become an increasingly popular choice to play Bruce Wayne/Batman in James Gunn’s DCU.

Speaking to BroBible’s Post Credit Podcast ahead of the release of his new film Ordinary Angels, Ritchson indicated that being mentioned as a potential Batman is a “real honor and privilege” because Batman was one of the first characters that he “fell in love with.”

“The fact that people are interested in me playing Batman is a real honor and privilege. It’s one of the first characters I fell in love with as a child: I still remember the big, long pistol coming out of Joker’s pants as he goes to shoot down the Batplane,” Ritchson told BroBible’s Post Credit Podcast.

“Those iconic moments really resonated with me as a child. For there to even be a conversation or a rumor mill surrounding this role, for me… all I can do is laugh. I just think it’s wild that’s where we are,” he said.

Ritchson then expressed some doubt that he’d be the right choice because he’s perhaps too old, to which we responded by reminding him that the DCU version of Batman needs to be old enough to have a pre-teen or teenaged son in Damian Wayne, who takes up the mantle of Robin.

“Who knows what they have planned for the franchise? If they want to go much younger and tell these origin stories, sounds like that’s kind of…” Ritchson continued.

“He’s got to be old enough to have a kid!” we interjected. “Not gonna let you sneak out like that.”

“Okay, then, you know… I would love to. I would absolutely love to. It’s one of the coolest characters of all time,” Ritchson responded.

At this time, the DCU’s Batman project, titled The Brave and the Bold, does not have an official release date.

Ritchson’s new film Ordinary Angels, which co-stars two-time Academy Award winner Hillary Swank, releases in movie theaters on February 22. You can check out the trailer below.