Phil Roberts 
Alan Ritchson seemingly rules out his chances of becoming Batman in DC Studios’ Batman: The Brave and the Bold.
With the new DC Universe now alive and thriving, fans are looking to James Gunn and Peter Safran to cast their new Batman. Recently, the Reacher star Alan Ritchson threw his hat into the ring. He even offered his services for free. He was eager to secure the role. This sent a shockwave through the fanbase, with the majority rallying behind the actor. But until recently, nothing concrete had emerged from DC Studios. So, given the overwhelming support Ritchson has, as well as his eagerness for the role, is James Gunn tempted to cast him as Batman in The Brave and the Bold?
On the final leg of his Superman press tour, James Gunn stopped by the Happy Sad Confused podcast and had the Batman question put to him. While the DC head honcho didn’t rule out Ritchson’s chances, he was very coy about the Dark Knight’s casting. He said, “I am a big Alan Ritchson fan. Both as an actor and as a guy. Let’s just wait to see what happens.”
WHEN GUNN MET RITCHSON
However, in a recent interview with Variety to promote his latest film, Motor City, Ritchson revealed that a meeting between the two had taken place. That’s right, James Gunn and Alan Ritchson actually sat around the table to discuss Batman. The outcome of the conversation was Ritchson leaving with the belief that he had a future in the new DC Universe. Yet, it would not be as the Caped Crusader.
“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.”
BRAVE AND THE BOLD
Previously, Gunn gave us some insight into what we can expect from The Brave and the Bold, and Alan Ritchson seems tailor-made for the role. The film will introduce the Bat-family with a heavy focus on Bruce Wayne and his relationship with his estranged son, Damien.
“The Brave and the Bold” will introduce “the Bat family,” Gunn said. First among them is Robin, who is returning fully to live-action movies for the first time since 1997’s ill-fated feature “Batman and Robin.”
This version of Robin is Damian Wayne; Gunn described him as “our favorite Robin,” “a little son of a bitch,” an “assassin” and a “murderer.”
Damian is Bruce Wayne’s biological son, a fact unknown to Wayne for the first eight to 10 years of Damian’s life. “It’s a very strange sort of father-son story about the two of them,” Gunn said.
The project is based on the run of Batman comics authored by Grant Morrison, who Gunn said was “exceptionally influential” on the DCU. The other comics writer Gunn mentioned by name was Tom King — who participated in the DCU writers room and leads right into the next feature project.
RELEASE
Taking on the role of the Caped Crusader is a challenging task. It can have a significant impact on an actor’s career. With James Gunn confirming that long-term contracts will bind any actor cast in the new DC Universe, the next Batman is set to be a lasting presence. Hence, he will influence the franchise for the foreseeable future. Given his impressive performance as Jack Reacher in Prime Video’s “Reacher,” Alan Ritchson appeared, on paper, to be an excellent fit for the role. He possesses the necessary screen presence, physicality, and acting skills to portray a remarkable Dark Knight.
However, with Ritchson seemingly ruling himself out as DC’s new Dark Knight, the search continues for the man who would be the Bat! That being said, which character would fit Ritchson’s physique and attributes? The obvious choice would be Aquaman, but at this point, the sky is the limit for this incredibly talented actor.
Who would you cast as the new Batman? Are you excited about The Brave and the Bold? Drop a comment in the chat below.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
