Reacher star Alan Ritchson joins Netflix heist movie as first plot details surface
On the back of a Netflix pact, Alan Ritchson has teed up his first film under the deal — a heist thriller.
If you have not seen enough of Alan Ritchson flexing his action muscles lately, brace yourself – he is about to become even more difficult to avoid, thanks to a shiny new partnership with Netflix and a film premise aimed straight at anyone who has ever watched MotoGP or nicked a Vespa.
Ritchson + Netflix: Full Throttle
So, here is the gist: sources have confirmed that Ritchson – best known at the moment for bulking up and cracking skulls as Reacher – has signed a deal with Netflix under his production label, Dancing Skeleton. That means he is not just starring, but he is producing as well, clearly planning to stick around for the long haul. The first project in the pipeline? An as-yet-untitled heist thriller set in the world of MotoGP – picture high-octane racing meets international grand larceny.
The script comes courtesy of Chris Morgan (yes, the Furious kind – as in Fast & Furious), which should give you a rough idea of what sort of rattling, ridiculous vehicular antics to expect. The plot: a superstar MotoGP racer (played by Ritchson, obviously) is roped in by Interpol to help catch a ring of motorbike thieves swiping priceless antiquities around the world. Inevitably, there is a wrench in the works: turns out the gang’s leader may or may not be his long-lost, presumed dead younger brother. Because when Interpol comes calling, it is never for something straightforward.
Ritchson’s last Netflix outing, War Machine, snagged nearly 140 million views within its first 91 days and cracked Netflix’s top 10 most popular films ever.
MotoGP themselves are properly on board, having signed an agreement to consult during production (so presumably expect real bikes and at least a passing nod to the sport’s reality rather than the usual ‘Hollywood has never touched a helmet before’ approach).
Who Else Is Lining Up?
- Ritchson is producing alongside Chris Morgan and Ainsley Morgan (Chris Morgan Productions), plus Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum for RK Films.
- Chris Morgan is writing the script.
- The film is still untitled, but the premise is already set and early development is underway.
If you are wondering why Netflix wants so much more of Ritchson: it is down to data, as usual. His recent film War Machine did rather well for them, clocking almost 140 million views in 91 days after its March streaming release. That result shoved it neatly into the streaming giant’s ‘Most Popular’ top ten, which is no mean feat given the endless shuffle of content that comes and goes.
If for some reason that is not enough Ritchson for you, he is also dropping into Runner – an upcoming action-comedy with Owen Wilson – and has landed a spot alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger for a 2026 festive comedy called The Man with the Bag. So unless you are actively hiding, you will not be escaping his jawline any time soon.