Alan Ritchson could’ve led his own solo DC show in the mid-2000s.

SUMMARY

Alan Ritchson is earning plenty of plaudits for his brilliant performance in Season 2 of Reacher.
The Reacher star is many DC fans’ preferred choice for the next Batman.
During the early days of his career, Ritchson’s proposed DC show was canceled due to his modest popularity.

Alan Ritchson reprised the role of the titular character in Season 2 of the Prime Video series Reacher. Based on the 11th Reacher novel Bad Luck and Trouble, this time Jack Reacher reassembles his old team after finding out that the members of his former U.S. Army unit are being mysteriously murdered one by one.

Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher

The second season wrapped up only last week, but fans might not have to wait too long to see the former U.S. Army Military Police Major in action as the third season of the hit series is already on the way.

Much of Reacher’s success is undoubtedly due to Ritchson’s strong screen presence and of course, his wall-like physique. However, he had to wait very long to get such an opportunity. In the early 2000s, he missed out on a chance to lead his own DC Comics-based show.

Why Reacher Star Alan Ritchson Was Robbed off His DC Dream

Alan Ritchson first grabbed the headlines with his portrayal of Arthur Curry/Aquaman in Smallville (2001-11). The superhero television series follows the coming-of-age adventures of young Clark Kent, as the iconic superhero struggles to find his place in the world.

Alan Ritchson as Aquaman in Smallville
Ritchson joined Tom Welling in the fifth season and his half-human and half-Atlantean character instantly became a fan favorite, leading to suggestions of a solo Aquaman TV series. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, the 41-year-old recalled:

“I was thrust into a situation with Smallville where I was promised a spinoff right away. The ratings were record-setting in season five when I came in. I had all these people in Hollywood saying to me, ‘You are the guy. You’re going to be No. 1 on the call sheet right away.’”

However, the merger between UPN and Warner Bros. to create The CW took place during the same period, leading to the arrival of new decision-makers, who didn’t find Ritchson’s résumé very impressive. Thus, his Aquaman series never got off the ground.

It’s been a slow and steady journey for Ritchson, who returned to the DC universe as Hank Hall/Hawk in Titans in 2018. Now on the back of the success of Reacher, he’s being tipped by fans to become DC Studios’ next Batman.

Why Fans Are Demanding for Alan Ritchson to Become Next Batman

James Gunn has confirmed the majority of the main cast of the first DCU installment, Superman: Legacy. David Corenswet has replaced Henry Cavill as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan is the new Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult is set to portray Lex Luthor.

Alan Ritchson
However, not much is known about The Brave and the Bold, a new movie on the Caped Crusader. It seems fans have taken the initiative for this major casting, as in recent weeks plenty of artworks and posts have been made to champion Ritchson’s entry into the DCU as Batman.

Considering Ritchson’s intimidating physique, he’s far from a bad shout for Bruce Wayne. One of the big reasons DC fans like Ben Affleck’s iteration is his imposing presence. The Reacher star certainly has the potential to ape the same effect.