(Image Source: Pinterest, Marvel Studios)
Alan Ritchson, who has gained immense popularity and a steady stream of roles recently for starring in the series "Reacher," is also a hot contender for the next "Batman." Ritchson is no stranger to superhero roles, having previously played Aquaman in the DC series "Smallville" and Hawk in two other DC shows, "Titans" and "Supergirl," demonstrating his strong connection to the DC universe.
However, Ritchson did attempt to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Two years ago, Ritchson confessed that he had also auditioned for the role of Thor. Marvel was reportedly very keen on casting him, but Ritchson, upon learning that Marvel was interested primarily due to his physical resemblance to the comic book Thor, didn't take the preparation seriously. He admitted to not performing his best during the audition, which ultimately led to him losing the role.
During a recent interview on the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast, Ritchson was again asked about the experience. This time, he elaborated, explaining that it taught him a significant lesson. He stated that he received "terrible feedback" at the time, but it proved to be incredibly helpful. The casting director had told him that the role was likely his if his acting skills were up to par. Ritchson admitted he wasn't fully prepared that day and vowed that such a thing would never happen again. He reflected that sometimes people need such a wake-up call and to question whether their ego becomes a stumbling block, or if they self-hypnotize by thinking, "They just don't appreciate me; they don't understand my art." He could have said those things, but he decided he would never let that happen again. He then stepped back from the industry slightly to focus on understanding the craft of acting, improving both himself and his performances. He expressed gratitude for that setback, emphasizing that sometimes one must be truly willing to remain humble and learn what they don't know.