MOVIE NEWS – Alan Ritchson might be busy throwing punches and cracking skulls as Jack Reacher, but fans can’t stop picturing him under Batman’s cape and cowl in James Gunn’s DCU. Rumors claiming Ritchson was in talks for the role have persisted for years, despite Gunn repeatedly denying them. While answering Wired’s most googled questions, Ritchson once again faced the undying speculation head-on.

“What blows my mind about the Batman rumors and the ongoing buzz is that James Gunn himself publicly announced on Twitter—or X or whatever—’LOL, he’s not playing Batman. Alan is not Batman!’ Yet it refuses to die. I get asked daily if I’m Batman. Would I do it? Absolutely. Would I pay to be Batman? You wouldn’t even need to pay me. I’d put on that suit right now and say, ‘Gotham is mine.’ See? I don’t even need rehearsal; it’s second nature.”

Batman’s future remains murky, with Gunn consistently stating there are no frontrunners, completed scripts, or announcements regarding the DCU’s Batman, who is slated to debut in The Brave and the Bold. Despite this, fans remain eager to see Ritchson in the role, keeping the rumors alive.

Should Alan Ritchson Become the DCU’s Batman?

Fans will soon get two distinct versions of Batman thanks to James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Studios plans. Matt Reeves will continue his acclaimed The Batman saga starring Robert Pattinson, while the DCU will introduce its own new Dark Knight with another actor donning the cape.

So far, Batman has only briefly appeared in animated form during Creature Commandos and won’t feature in this summer’s Superman movie. Yet, the muscular, animated Batman depiction certainly fueled speculation about Ritchson being ideal for the role. Previously, Ritchson compared Batman to Jack Reacher, highlighting key differences:

“You know, [Batman without a cape] is actually a good analogy. But Batman’s got a cave, and Reacher doesn’t even have a home—just a toothbrush. Batman has cool gear, wealth, caves, penthouses, and spotlights calling him. Batman’s definitely cooler.”

Until someone is officially cast, Alan Ritchson’s name will likely remain in fans’ discussions about who should next protect Gotham. Given how persistent rumors can shape reality online, perhaps he still has a shot at becoming Gotham’s next guardian after all.

Source: MovieWeb