10 DC Characters Alan Ritchson Could Play In James Gunn’s DCU Now That He Is In Talks With DC

Alan Ritchson is having conversations to join the DC Universe, and the actor would be perfect for a few roles. Ritchson became one of the most popular choices to play Batman in the DCU Chapter One among fans after James Gunn announced he was rebooting the movie franchise. The Reacher star went on to campaign for the role in interviews.

All of that led to Ritchson and DC talking, but it seems Batman is out of the question. Speaking with ScreenRant, Alan Ritchson teased his possible role in future DC projects. According to the actor, he is in talks with the studio to play a “messier” type of character, who has to be “dirtier than your typical clean-cut protagonist.” These DC characters fit the bill:

10

Midnighter

First up is Midnighter. This is a character that would allow Ritchson to unite his past desire to play Batman with his new comments about playing a messier DC character in the DCU. That is because Midnighter is often compared to a more extreme version of Batman, being more violent than the Dark Knight.

Midnighter is likely set to be part of the DCU, as the character is connected to The Authority, a superhero team that had a movie announced when Gunn revealed the first few movies and series of the DCU. Ritchson knows how to play a violent character with some nuance to him, being able to make Midnighter’s softer side with Apollo shine.

9

Wildcat

With Batman out of the question, Wildcat has become one of the most popular picks among fans for whom Ritchson could play in the DCU. It is easy to see why that is the case. Ritchson’s time as Hawk in DC’s Titans series makes him a great pick for Wilcat, a veteran hero with a gruff attitude.

At 42, Ritchson would be believable as a mentor to a younger generation of heroes, given the DCU will have young characters like the Teen Titans and Batman’s son, Damian Wayne. Wildcat has a hard exterior but a lot of love for those he trains. Ritchson’s career shows he excels in this kind of “gentle giant” role.

8

Deathstroke

If Ritchson will not play Batman in the DCU, then he could become a major franchise villain who could go up against the Dark Knight in the future. After all, Deathstroke was once set to be the villain of Ben Affleck’s Batman movie. Now, Slade Wilson is reportedly getting a team-up movie of sorts with Bane.

With a Teen Titans movie in the works for the DCU, Deathstroke, the team’s biggest villain, is also likely to appear there. Ritchson has the star power to push Deathstroke to become a major DCU player. His experience with action sequences and no-nonsense characters is perfect for Slade. Reacher’s brawn and brains combo is pure Deathstroke.

7

Owlman

Peacemaker season 2 explored how there are several dimensions that the DCU could explore, and with John Cena’s Peacemaker trapped in one of them, the franchise should not be dropping that concept anytime soon. Additionally, we never saw Ultraman die in the Superman movie, so he might have been sent somewhere.

In the comics, Ultraman, Owlman, and other characters make up Earth-3’s Crime Syndicate, an evil multiversal Justice League. Ritchson’s qualities to play Batman would translate nicely to this evil version of the Dark Knight. The Reacher actor would have a lot of fun delving into what sure is a “messier” version of the DC hero.

6

Captain Atom

Captain Atom is one of DC’s most powerful characters, being able to blast nuclear energy out of his body and more. He is one of the characters who could fight Superman and end up winning. Given that David Corenswet’s Superman lasted three years without losing a fight in the DCU, only formidable characters would be able to do that.

By casting Alan Ritchson as Captain Atom, DC would instantly make it believable that he could beat Superman. This is a role built for Ritchson’s imposing physique and menacing onscreen presence. With Ritchson’s experience in Reacher providing him with a background in a major military character, he would do Captain Atom’s Air Force past justice.

5

Mongul

Man of Tomorrow will see Corenswet’s Superman and Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor team up against a bigger threat. While that has led to Brainiac theories, it could also mean that a villain like Mongul could be in play. He certainly fits the bill, and Ritchson would be perfect for the alien villain, whose imposing physique matches the actor’s.

Mongul is the ruler of Warworld, a mobile planet he rules with an iron fist, promoting gladiatorial combat, conquering worlds, and taking slaves. Ritchson has the intensity to make Mongul a frightening villain that offers a threat to Earth and the entire DCU. He would excel in the action sequences and in making the villain stand out from the rest.

4

Orion

Orion is one of DC’s messiest characters. He is Darkseid’s son, but Orion was not raised by his evil father. Instead, as part of a peace treaty, Orion grew up as one of the children of the benevolent Highfather of New Genesis, while Mister Miracle, Highfather’s son, was raised in Apokolips by Darkseid’s side.

This dynamic creates a deep divide within Orion, who has a huge innate rage he tries to contain. Ritchson would play one of his most interesting roles if he took on the character. Orion’s internal conflict is a true nurture versus nature battle, and Ritchson’s career shows he has the depth to hit those notes.

3

Hawkman

Hawkgirl is already in the DCU, being played by Isabela Merced in Superman. While that could hinder Ritchson’s chances of playing Hawkman, given that the two characters are often romantically linked in the comics and Ritchson is 42, while Merced is 24, DC could make it work. After all, Hawkgirl has dated characters like John Stewart before.

Beyond any possible romance, Ritchson would be perfect for Hawkman due to his DC past as Hawk in Titans. No, I don’t mean the connection between the superheroes’ names, but the fact that both characters are known for not having the best tempers and often resorting to violence to solve matters.

2

Bane

Bane is another Batman villain that would allow Ritchson to still be involved with the hero’s corner of the DCU while playing a messier character. Like Deathstroke, he is reportedly getting a movie from DC Studios. Ritchson has the physique that a character known for his huge size, like Bane, asks for.

However, Bane is more than just his muscles. Some of the character’s best stories are those that show how he is not only a physical threat to Batman, but also an intellectual one. In Reacher, Ricthson effectively plays a character who can hit like a truck, intimidate anyone, but also do detective work and prepare for every scenario. His Bane would be the whole package.

1

Azrael

Finally, Azrael is as messy a character as those in DC’s corner go. He should be getting a nice boost in popularity in the next few years, as a 4-part animated Batman: Knightfall movie franchise has been announced. In that story, Bane breaks Batman’s back, with Azrael taking over as the Dark Knight but eventually losing his mind in the process.

Azrael has many demons to fight, with a complicated past and a hyper-violent fighting style. Those elements make him ripe for a live-action adaptation, and Alan Ritchson could make the most out of that. All these characters would suit the actor in the DCU, and with Ritchson in talks with DC, we will hopefully hear an announcement sooner rather than later.