Kickstarted nearly 45 years ago with Richard Donner’s Superman, Warner Bros’ DC film universe has had several actors behind the cowl.

Now, all these years later, as the entertainment landscape seems to be undergoing seismic shifts and the studio begins to navigate through a new phase of significant transition, James Gunn is in search of a new Caped Crusader for his upcoming DCU.

Could Reacher actor Alan Ritchson be the next Batman? A new interview with Fortress of Solitude reveals that the 41-year-old actor would certainly like to throw his hat in the ring.

Early last year, during his FatMan Beyond podcast, filmmaker Kevin Smith (who is deeply entrenched in the comic book world) discussed his interest in seeing Alan Ritchson play Batman.

Even though Smith is a close friend to Ben Affleck, it seems everyone agrees that the Batfleck is now officially done and dusted — especially now after his awful portrayal of the character in 2023’s The Flash movie.

Of course, fans agreed and word got out to Ritchson, who is totally aware of the recommendation and even the recent rumours about his casting. In fact, he would love to don the cape and cowl of Gotham’s most famous vigilante:

“With all the rumours flying that I’m supposed to be playing Batman, how can I knock Batman? I would love to play Batman.“

Ritchson, known for his dynamic roles and commanding screen presence, would certainly make an interesting Dark Knight. And, to be honest, in some ways, he has already played the character in a way.

“You know, [Batman without a cape] is a great analogy, actually. But I mean, Batman has got like a cave, and Reacher doesn’t even have a house. He’s got a toothbrush. So, I think Batman has got cool stuff. Dude is loaded and has caves, penthouses, and spotlights that call him. Batman’s cooler.”

Kevin Smith’s acclamation of Ritchson is not merely superficial, of course. It is rooted in the appreciation of both Ritchson’s physicality and his previous work in comic book roles, like Smallville and, more recently, Titans.

This endorsement, coupled with Alan Ritchson’s own enthusiasm to play Batman, adds substantial weight to the speculation of his casting. At the very least, it should get him a conversation with James Gunn to discuss the possibilities. DC fans are certainly ready to embrace him in the role. A recent post we shared on Facebook has gained thousands of likes, with many getting behind the idea.

Sure, he is big built and incredibly muscular – which some believe doesn’t fall in line with Batman’s history as a martial artist.

However, the character has also been depicted as agile but also menacing and bulky – even built like a strong tower. So it really all depends on how Gunn envisions the character alongside other heroes like Superman, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman.

While the excitement is certainly palpable, it’s crucial to remember that these are still the realms of speculation. Gunn hasn’t announced his choice for Batman, and Alan Ritchson isn’t verifying anything… yet.

That said, the blend of industry support, fan excitement and the Reacher actor’s own aspirations certainly would set him in good standing with the studio. After all, Gunn himself admitted to perusing fan casting sites.