Reacher actor Alan Ritchson has confirmed he will not be playing Batman in the DC Universe, despite years of fan speculation, but revealed he has been in talks with DC about taking on a different character instead. Speaking at a Reacher panel during San Diego Comic-Con 2026, Ritchson said he wanted to address the ongoing rumours directly so as not to mislead fans, while stressing that a future collaboration with DC remains possible just not as Bruce Wayne.

Ritchson has fielded Batman casting rumours since 2023, and in August 2025 he confirmed he had spoken with DC while downplaying his chances of landing the role. At SDCC 2026 he went further, telling the crowd "we're having conversations about another character," though he declined to name who it might be. The news comes as DC Studios, led by co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran, continues building out its new cinematic universe, including the upcoming Clayface film and the future Batman: The Brave and the Bold project, alongside The Batman Part 2.