DC Studios boss Peter Safran confirms they’ve had conversations with Alan Ritchson for a variety of roles, but are still looking to find the right one.
When speaking with Collider, Safran confirmed that Ritchson is an actor with whom DC Studios has had several conversations and wants to utilize. He noted that they’ve eyed him for a handful of projects, but none of them have come to fruition.
Although the actor has been heavily speculated about and is on fans’ wishlist to play the DCU’s Batman, it doesn’t sound like that’s the role DC wants him for. However, DC sees more in him than just a big badass brawler, which is the kind of role he’s best known for.
“[…] He’s just good,” said Safran. “I also think there’s a lot more depth to him than you might have seen. I think there’s more that he can do that people haven’t seen.”
It’s unclear what roles he could play. Obviously, given his size, he’s a great fit for someone like Bane, Deathstroke, or some other physically imposing character. However, it sounds like Safran is trying to find something that allows him to flex his acting chops and show off his range. DC is currently producing a film centered around Bane and Deathstroke, so it’s possible he ends up playing one of those characters, but it’s hard to say right now.
Although Robert Pattinson is currently firmly seated in the role of Batman, he’s not expected to play the character in the DCU. Pattinson himself has even noted that the tonal difference between his DC universe and James Gunn’s might be too jarring. Instead, the DCU is expected to introduce an older Batman with a son, Damian Wayne. It’s unclear when we will actually see him or when we will learn who is playing him, as the project was announced nearly four years ago and has received very few updates.
The DCU’s Batman was briefly seen in Creature Commandos, but it wasn’t anything super notable. The character does not appear in DC’s Clayface movie, either, so the studio is clearly trying to find the right way to properly introduce him. Maybe he’ll be in next year’s Man of Tomorrow, but we’ll just have to wait and see.
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN’s news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.
