Alan Ritchson Rules Out Batman Role After James Gunn Talks

Alan Ritchson, star of Reacher and a recurring actor in DC projects like Smallville and Titans, has confirmed that while he has discussed the role of Batman with DC Studios co-head James Gunn, he strongly doubts he will play the Dark Knight in the new DC Universe (DCU). Gunn has expressed admiration for Ritchson but has not yet cast the DCU Batman, with the character's debut still years away and the film The Brave and the Bold, which will feature Batman, still in script development. The DCU Batman is separate from Robert Pattinson's Batman, which exists in its own continuity, adding complexity to casting and storytelling. Ritchson remains optimistic about appearing in the DCU, just not as Batman, and fans speculate he could take on other roles such as Aquaman, Booster Gold, Hawkman, or Wildcat. Meanwhile, James Gunn has indicated that casting the right Batman is crucial to differentiating the DCU's take on the character from other versions, but the project is not yet close to casting. Other rumored actors for Batman include Brandon Sklenar, but no official announcements have been made regarding the role's casting or release date.