‘[Not] a Good Idea’: Alan Ritchson Regrets Wearing Smallville Aquaman Suit

Reacher’s Alan Ritchson recalled putting on a superhero suit for his role as Aquaman in Smallville.

Alan Ritchson’s career is expanding, and he has several projects lined up, but the actor looked back on one of his starting roles where he played Aquaman on Smallville, and commented on his superhero costume.

Smallville premiered in October 2001, and it ran for ten seasons on The WB (later The CW). The show followed Clark Kent’s journey to becoming Superman, developed by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, and starring Tom Welling as the titular character.

Throughout the seasons, several DC characters graced the small screen, including Arthur Curry/ Aquaman, played by Alan Ritchson. The actor recently recalled his role and told BroBile’s Post Credit Podcast that his orange superhero outfit makes him “run from all civilization.”

“What comes to mind first is how fast and far I can run from all civilization when I see myself in that orange head-to-toe Speedo, zipped up the middle,” Ritchson joked about his outfit. “I see those pictures and I kind of can’t believe anybody thought it was a good idea to dress me like that and photograph me with that ensemble.”

The actor is currently known for his role as Jack Reacher in Prime Video’s hit show Reacher, the actor added that he didn’t have the opportunity to choose when starting out.

“When you’re just starting out, you do not feel like you have a voice or permission to say anything, so I just never questioned a thing and I wish I had. That Speedo was scary,” he said.

Alan Ritchson appeared in four Smallville episodes. He made his first appearance in Season 5, Episode 4, “Aqua,” and returned three more times throughout the seasons. The last time he put on Aquaman’s suit was in Season 10, Episode 9, “Patriot.” Ritchson also voiced the character in the 2008 animated film Justice League: The New Frontier.

Alan Ritchson’s Upcoming Roles Don’t Include A Speedy Superhero Suit

Since his starting days, Ritchson voiced Raphael in 2014’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and its 2016 sequel and also appeared as Hank Hall/ Hawl in Titans. The actor starred in films like The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Fast X. His character ended up betraying everyone in the latter, so he will most likely return in Fast & Furious 11.

Aside from that, he will appear in Jon Gunn’s Ordinary Angels. The drama follows the true story of a hairdresser who got a community to help a widowed father save the life of his critically ill daughter. The film, which stars Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank, will premiere on Feb. 23, 2024.

However, his most exciting role is in Guy Ritchie’s upcoming film The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. The war movie is set during World War II, and the British Army recruits a group of misfit soldiers to deal with the Nazi. Among other famous names, the film also stars Henry Cavill as the lead actor, the film will premiere on April 19, 2024.