Published Jul 24, 2026, 9:00 AM EDT
Zoë Miskelly is an editor and second in command for Screen Rant's Movies team, having covered the entertainment industry for almost 10 years now. Zoë's love of superheroes and all things Marvel & DC started out in childhood, and has blossomed into a career getting to talk about some of the biggest and best movies and shows of all time, having previously focused on comics while working at WhatCulture.
The latest theory about who Alan Ritchson could play in the DC Universe - and who he might be most suited to play - appears to have hit on a prospective casting that could be more universally appreciated than the ever-popular fancast of him as Batman. Given Alan Ritchson's experience in the action and superhero genres, it's easy to see why fans have theorized that the actor could be a perfect DCU Batman candidate, especially since Ritchson has expressed interest in appearing in the DC Universe.
However, this fancast has also been the source of some debate, as the topic of who would be the ideal Batman candidate for the DCU is naturally a topic of some fierce arguments. Ironically, this is to some degree only more true now the DC Universe timeline has started to get properly underway, as the setup for the franchise and what it means for the Dark Knight can be interpreted in many different ways.
That said, this isn't the only theory about what character Alan Ritchson could be best for in the comicbook world. Indeed, one of the other candidates the actor could take on may actually be a better call for the DCU and for Alan Ritchson alike, since it meshes with Ritchson's acting history just as effectively, but without the actor having to be as tied to the franchise, and without the divisiveness of his Batman prospects.
The Other Major Theory About Alan Ritchson's DC Universe Role Could Be A More Universally Appreciated Casting
Via MovieStillsDBWhile rumors still abound about the prospect of Alan Ritchson becoming the DCU's Batman, the actor has addressed the matter in a way that has appeared to reject this prospect.
In a recent interview with Josh Horowitz for the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast, the actor responded to questions about whether he would be the franchise's Batman by stating he had strict internal rules for roles he'd take, appearing to suggest this role might not align for him. When Ritchson revealed he had been in talks about one specific DCU role, he also notably responded to the interviewers' question of "and it's not Batman" with the statement:
“Look, the future is bright, and the horizons are broad, and anything is possible for any of us, okay?”
Interestingly, this has furthered theories that the actor is in line for another DCU role, as many online have taken this as support to the idea of Alan Ritchson could instead play Orion, the son of major DC villain Darkseid, who was raised instead on Apokalips' more peaceful twin planet New Genesis as part of a temporary peace treaty between the two planets, leading Orion to have a more heroic overall arc in DC's comics.
Orion does have clear visual similarities to Alan Ritchson in many of his depictions, and his story as a war god matches up decidedly well with Ritchson's extensive acting history as an action hero. Given the concept of Ritchson being the DCU's Batman is a more divisive matter for fans, it does stand to reason this route may be a more optimal approach to things, since the Orion casting would give Ritchson a big role that seems more universally approved of.
Orion's DC Universe Debut Is Already Impending For The Franchise
Excitingly, we may well end up seeing Orion before we get a concrete DCU Batman casting for the franchise, given the trajectory the franchise has already made clear given its lineup and their impending releases.
Currently, the DCU Batman solo movie The Brave & The Bold is predicted to arrive in 2028 at the latest - and possibly now even later, given there have been comments about The Batman 2 and The Brave & The Bold not releasing too close together from DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn, and The Batman 2 has been delayed to a 2028 release.
Comparatively, we've gotten plenty of teases about the upcoming Mister Miracle animated show - that would logically include some feature of Orion, since the hero's lore is tied to Orion closely - which has no such conflicting issues, and appears to be a part of the early release line for the franchise. As such, the series releasing in the next year or two would be a savvy move for the DC Universe, since it would allow major figures like Darkseid and the Highfather to get at least established in this rendition of the franchise.
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