Reacher star Alan Ritchson has been imagined as the DC Universe’s new Batman in amazing fan art, proving that he may be perfect as the Caped Crusader.

SUMMARY

 James Gunn and Peter Safran are on the lookout for a new Batman actor to debut in the newly-rebooted DC Universe.
Alan Ritchson is a favored choice due to his previous roles in DC TV shows and high-octane projects, as well as his muscular physique.
Fan art has depicted Alan Ritchson as the DCU’s Batman, who could deliver a stoic performance that could create a multi-layered portrayal of the Dark Knight.

DC Studios is on the hunt for a new Batman actor, set to debut in The Brave and the Bold in the newly-rebooted DC Universe, and Reacher’s Alan Ritchson may be the perfect man for the job.

Following their hiring as co-CEOs of DC Studios in November 2022, filmmaker James Gunn and producer Peter Safran set to work on rebooting the DCEU into the DC Universe.

This led to a January 2023 announcement that Superman and Batman, the franchise’s cornerstone heroes, would be reimagined in the DCU’s future. While David Corenswet will debut as Clark Kent in 2025’s Superman: Legacy, an actor for the Caped Crusader hasn’t yet been confirmed.

Since the announcement of The Brave and the Bold’s development, and Ben Affleck’s departure as Bruce Wayne, a.k.a. Batman, from the DCEU, there has been speculation regarding who will assume the coveted role of the Dark Knight in the DCU.

Actors including Jensen Ackles, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ben Barnes and Jon Hamm have become popular fan-casts, though DC alum Alan Ritchson has also been a favored choice.

Ritchson has recently been depicted in fan art imagining him as the DC Universe’s Batman, and, while nothing has yet been officially confirmed, his previous roles in various DC TV shows and high-octane projects suggest he may be perfect to take over from Affleck.

Alan Ritchson’s Best Role Makes Him Perfect To Continue Affleck’s Batman Approach

Premiering in February 2022, Amazon Prime Video’s Reacher series features Alan Ritchson as the titular Jack Reacher, a role previously portrayed by Tom Cruise in a series of feature film adaptations of Lee Child’s “Jack Reacher” book series.

Jack Reacher, a former United States Army Military Police Major, has an extensive investigative and combative background, priming him to take on mysteries across the United States in the Reacher series.

This also reflects Bruce Wayne’s role in the DC Universe perfectly, as Batman is an incredibly skilled hand-to-hand combatant, who is also the world’s greatest detective, perhaps making Alan Ritchson perfect for the role in the DCU.

Ben Affleck previously brought a stoicism and coolness to the role of Batman in the DCEU, which can be reinvented similarly by Alan Ritchson. Additionally, Ritchson made his acting debut as Arthur Curry, a.k.a. Aquaman, in Smallville, opposite Tom Welling’s Clark Kent, and went on to portray Hank Hall, a.k.a. Hawk, in HBO Max series Titans, so already has a good understanding of the world of DC.

On top of this, Ritchson also has a huge physique that not only makes him perfect for the more action-heavy roles in his acting repertoire, but would also deliver a more intimidating version of Batman in the DC Universe.

What Alan Ritchson Could Look Like As Batman

Fan art shared by Hasan Kazi in July 2023 depicts Alan Ritchson as Bruce Wayne’s Batman in the new DC Universe. Ritchson’s muscular physique, though shrouded beneath an updated, metallic Batman costume, makes him a much more imposing version of the Dark Knight than Ben Affleck’s.

However, Ritchson’s more stoic performance style would bring elements of Affleck’s previous Bruce Wayne iteration into the new DCU, and create a great opportunity to develop a multi-layered Batman, particularly with the introduction of Damian Wayne’s Robin in The Brave and the Bold. Ritchson has become a favorite to portray Batman, but DC Studios hasn’t yet officially announced any casting choices.