Peter Safran says DC Studios has talked to Alan Ritchson about “a couple of things”
Fresh comments from Peter Safran have added fuel to talk that Alan Ritchson could be headed for the DCU — and there’s still no Batman in sight.
Right, let’s be honest: the DCU is still faffing about without a proper Batman, and the rumour mill’s been on overdrive thanks to all the buzz around Alan Ritchson. If you’ve caught him being extremely large and quietly terrifying in Reacher, you’ll know exactly why fans keep trotting his name out as the ideal Caped Crusader. The man’s got the jawline for it, let’s not pretend otherwise. Problem is, everyone wants answers, and what we’ve been getting so far are, at best, hints and winks rather than actual news.
Alan Ritchson confirmed in 2025: 'I don’t want to mislead people. Words have been exchanged about Batman. But I strongly don’t think that Batman is in my future. I do think there is something in my future with DC. And I would like that to remain true.'
Who’s Saying What?
Here’s where it gets interesting. Peter Safran, one half of DC Studios’ top brass alongside James Gunn, actually commented on all this. He told Collider they’ve spoken to Ritchson about 'a couple of things', which is just vague enough to mean almost anything from a cameo as a street cop to a full-blown utility belt situation. But Safran pushed the point that Ritchson has more range than people realise, that there’s plenty the guy can do, which feels a lot like someone hinting there’s a part out there for him, just not necessarily Batman. Gunn’s reportedly a fan too, so the door’s clearly wide open.
- Ritchson has become a fan favourite for Batman since making waves as Reacher
- He’s had talks with DC Studios, with Safran and Gunn both singing his praises
- Ritchson himself admitted words have been exchanged—honestly, it sounds more like circling than anything concrete
- He reckons Batman isn’t likely, but still hopes for something else DC-related
- Fans are also angling for him as Shazam or Aquaman, so he isn’t short of options
Prime Batman casting is still wide open heading into 2026.
To add to that, there was a curious bit from Ritchson about wanting to play someone 'messier' rather than a squeaky-clean hero, which hardly screams Bruce Wayne, does it? He seems adamant Batman isn’t what’s coming, but is very much keeping the rest of the deck hidden. On the fan side, Shazam and Aquaman also keep popping up as Ritchson wish-casting, so clearly he’s at the top of everyone’s DC fantasy football list. And fair play, he’s got the build for all three.
Bottom line, at the pace this franchise moves, expect the will-he-won’t-he around Ritchson and Batman to rattle on into 2026. For now, it’s all just carefully worded maybe’s and the faint sound of more meetings being scheduled.