Did Alan Ritchson Confirm He’s Playing Bane in Gunn’s DCU ‘Bane & Deathstroke’
Alan Ritchson has long been a popular fan choice for a significant role in DC’s live-action universe, with speculation surrounding the ‘Reacher’ star intensifying since James Gunn took charge of DC Studios. This buzz has followed Ritchson through nearly every major interview since Gunn’s Superman reboot initiated the new DC Universe.
What began as mere fan speculation has transformed into credible confirmation that discussions are indeed taking place behind the scenes. Ritchson has been quite open about these talks over the past year, while also managing expectations regarding the specific role he might ultimately secure.
Recently, Ritchson confirmed that he has engaged in numerous conversations with James Gunn about a potential role in a DC Studios film, expressing his hope that whatever project comes to fruition will be something everyone involved can take pride in. This level of transparency marks a significant change from his earlier, more cautious remarks about his prospects with the studio.
This latest confirmation adds to the well-documented relationship between Ritchson and Gunn. Gunn first tackled the speculation directly on the ‘Happy Sad Confused’ podcast, where he told host Josh Horowitz that he considers himself a big fan of Ritchson, both as an actor and as a person, while refraining from confirming any specific casting.
Ritchson has also been candid about the nature of their discussions. In a conversation with Variety, he shared that there have indeed been discussions about Batman, although he firmly believes that particular role is not in his future. He does feel, however, that there is another opportunity with DC that he hopes will come to fruition.
The distinction between Batman and other potential roles has become a recurring theme in Ritchson’s public comments. He has previously expressed a desire to portray a character that is a bit more complex than a traditional hero, outlining the type of personality he would like to embody and what that character could represent within DC’s broader universe.
Ritchson’s unique history in the DC universe adds depth to these ongoing discussions. He previously portrayed Arthur Curry, also known as Aquaman, in several episodes of ‘Smallville’, and later took on the role of Hank Hall, known as Hawk, during his time on ‘Titans’, giving him two distinct experiences within DC-related properties.
The ongoing speculation regarding Batman stems from Ritchson’s own public advocacy for the role, including comments made to Wired where he expressed his eagerness to wear the cowl, joking that he wouldn’t even need to be paid to take on the character. Despite this enthusiasm, DC’s plans for its new Batman seem to be focused on ‘The Brave and the Bold’, a father-son narrative that introduces Damian Wayne alongside an already established Bruce Wayne within Gunn’s shared universe.
With casting for that project reportedly on hold until the screenplay is finalized, and Ritchson continuing to express genuine optimism about finding a place within Gunn’s DC Universe, fans have ample reason to stay tuned for updates. Given how consistently both parties have kept this dialogue alive across various interviews, an eventual announcement feels more like a certainty than mere speculation.
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