Could Alan Ritchson Be the Next Batman? He’s Already Talked to James Gunn

The DC Universe is slowly coming together under James Gunn and Peter Safran, but fans are still waiting for answers to the biggest question: who will play Batman and Wonder Woman?

So far, David Corenswet has already made his debut as Superman in the film that kicks off the new DCU. Fans are also enjoying season two of Peacemaker. But the rest of DC’s legendary trinity is still missing, and that leaves plenty of room for speculation.

James Gunn has previously said that neither Batman nor Wonder Woman have been cast yet. That hasn’t stopped fans from sharing their dream picks. Alan Ritchson and Jensen Ackles have both been mentioned often as fan-favorite choices for Batman.

Some people even hope Robert Pattinson’s version, which belongs to DC’s separate Elseworlds line, could someday appear in the main timeline.

Now, Alan Ritchson himself has revealed that he spoke with James Gunn about possibly taking on the role of the Dark Knight. In an interview, he admitted, “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.”

That may come as a disappointment to fans, and even to Ritchson himself, since he has been very open in the past about wanting the part. He once joked that he was ready to shout his interest “from the rooftops.”

Batman’s official introduction in the DCU is set to happen in the movie The Brave and the Bold. James Gunn announced that the story will be based on Grant Morrison’s comic run and will introduce Damian Wayne, the son of Bruce Wayne, as Robin. Gunn has described it as a father-and-son story and promised that it will be very different from any Batman film we’ve seen before.

We did get a quick look at Batman in Creature Commandos, but that was only a glimpse, and no actor or voice was tied to the role. The Brave and the Bold will mark his true entry into the shared universe.

The movie will be directed by Andy Muschietti, who worked on The Flash. His sister Barbara is producing alongside Gunn and Safran.

Development has moved slowly, partly because of scheduling issues and also because Warner Bros. wants to keep it separate from Matt Reeves’ The Batman Part II. Gunn has confirmed that a writer is already working on the project, but he hasn’t revealed who it is yet.

For now, the identity of the next Batman remains a mystery. Ritchson may not be the one to wear the cowl, but his comments suggest that James Gunn has something else planned for him in the DC Universe.

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