While Superman fans are feasting on James Gunn’s DCU reboot and Supergirl officially in the can ahead of its release next year, Batman fans are still stuck in the shadows — and the latest wave of casting rumors is only adding to the intrigue. One name that’s been floating around the Bat-rumor mill with increasing frequency? Alan Ritchson, the Reacher star whose blend of brooding physicality and towering presence has made him a fan-favorite choice to don the cape and cowl in Batman: The Brave and the Bold. And now, James Gunn himself is weighing in.
Gunn addressed the latest on the Dark Knight in his DCU, admitting that a new take on Batman probably wouldn’t be released in the same year as Matt Reeves‘ sequel, and offered a nuanced (if noncommittal) take on Ritchson’s possible casting:
“Probably not, probably not in the same calendar year again. I’m not going to say if The Brave and the Bold is the first time you’ll see this Batman. I haven’t thought of casting yet. I am a big Alan Ritchson fan, both as an actor and as a guy… let’s just wait to see what happens.”
The key takeaways? Gunn hasn’t made a decision, Ritchson’s not out of the running, and Batman could appear before Brave and the Bold hits theaters — a major clue that the character might be seeded in the DCU earlier than expected.
Alan Ritchson Wants to Be Batman
During a recent interview with WIRED, Ritchson addressed the persistent rumors head-on:
“What’s amazing about this rumor is that James Gunn has come out publicly and said ‘LOL he’s not playing Batman.’ And this thing will not die. I get asked every day if I’m playing Batman. Would I play Batman? Yes. You wouldn’t even have to pay me to be Batman. Yeah I would don the suit. ‘Gotham is mine.'”
It’s the kind of enthusiastic, slightly tongue-in-cheek answer fans have come to expect from Ritchson — but it also reflects a very real interest. At 42 years old, the Reacher actor has faced some online skepticism over his age, with critics claiming he might be too old to play a new Batman in the DCU. But here’s the thing: Batman: The Brave and the Bold introduces Bruce Wayne as a father to Damian Wayne, aka Robin. This is not a young, just-getting-started Batman like Robert Pattinson’s version. If anything, a more seasoned actor fits the story better. Plus, he’s who we want. REACHER BATMAN, WHO SAYS NO? Ahem.
via Collider