Reacher Star Alan Ritchson Confirms Conversations With DC About Playing 'Another Character' That Isn't Batman

Reacher prima Alan Ritchson has confirmed helium won't beryllium playing Batman successful the DCU, but helium has had conversations with DC astir playing "another character" instead.

Ritchson touched connected the rumors that helium could represent the adjacent iteration of the Caped Crusader during a Reacher sheet astatine San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) 2026 (via CinemaBlend). His thoughts connected the substance travel years of hopeful fancasts arsenic the DCU carves retired its country of the movie beingness with a caller Superman, a caller Gotham, and eventually, a caller Batman.

Ritchson didn't rather outright contradict that helium would play Bruce Wayne successful the DCU, but it sounds similar the chances of it happening immoderate clip soon are slim. Still, it appears helium and DC volition person each other's phones ringing for a agelong clip to come.

Alan Ritchson. Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images.

"I consciousness similar I person to code this due to the fact that it comes up each the time," Ritchson said. "I don't ever privation to pb idiosyncratic connected to consciousness like, 'Maybe he's…' I've had a batch of conversations with DC astir what to bash due to the fact that we would similar to enactment together. I inactive ne'er accidental ne'er – possibly Batman is successful the aboriginal – but I don't deliberation it is."

Ritchson has been addressing rumors that helium would play Bruce Wayne successful the DCU for years. He seemed amused by the thought erstwhile it was brought up successful 2023, though helium dodged mentioning immoderate imaginable conversations astir really portraying the character. Then, successful August of 2025, the Reacher histrion confirmed helium had spoken with DC but formed uncertainty connected being Batman.

Fans started to get their hopes up yet again erstwhile Ritchson bushed astir the bush connected Happy, Sad, Confused past week, but astatine SDCC 2026 helium downplayed his chances of playing Batman erstwhile again. However, it sounds similar determination is astatine slightest 1 quality some helium and DC person successful mind.

"We're having conversations astir different character," helium teased. "I conscionable don't deliberation Batman is successful the cards for me, arsenic overmuch arsenic I would emotion to bash it."

Ritchson mentioning conversations of playing "another character" drew tons of oohs and aahs from the SDCC crowed – but who is this enigma superhero/supervillain? For now, Ritchson is keeping his lips sealed, but with the DC barreling guardant each day, it hopefully won't beryllium excessively agelong earlier we perceive more.

While the DCU's Batman has not been (publicly) cast, DC volition astatine slightest present viewers to its caller Gotham erstwhile its Clayface movie comes to theaters aboriginal this year. We tin astatine slightest anticipation to larn much arsenic DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran determination person to releasing their Batman: The Brave and the Bold task successful the future. The Batman Part 2 should assistance with the hold successful the meantime.

Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images.

Michael Cripe is simply a freelance writer with IGN. He's champion known for his enactment astatine sites similar The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be definite to springiness him a travel connected Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).