Alan Ritchson’s Next Moves: Unveiling His Upcoming Projects and Roles

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Alan Ritchson has grown significantly, not just in terms of his stature but also in his career. He first graced our screens in the early 2000s as Aquaman on the CW’s superhero show, “Smallville.” Since then, he’s been a familiar face in numerous films and TV programs. Some of his most recognized roles are found in “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” and the upcoming “Fast X,” and he also lent his voice to the character Raphael in Michael Bay’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” series.

Known primarily for his television roles, Ritchson is recognized for playing the comically absurd Thad in the series “Blue Mountain State,” which garnered a dedicated fanbase following its streaming on Netflix. Subsequently, he became widely recognized for his performance in “Reacher.” So, what other projects might this up-and-coming actor have in store?

Here’s every project that Alan Ritchson is currently working on for TV and for the big screen.

7
‘Reacher’ Season 4

Release Date TBD

In a notable shift, Ritchson is renowned for embodying the title character in Amazon Prime Video’s “Reacher” series, a role that sees him portray Jack Reacher, an action hero and military man. This interpretation of Reacher, long awaited by fans of Lee Child’s crime novels, was seen as a correction to the Tom Cruise portrayal from the 2010s, which left some enthusiasts unsatisfied. The on-screen Reacher shares striking similarities with his literary counterpart, boasting towering height, impressive musculature, and blond hair. The series has garnered praise from both critics and viewers. Since its debut in 2022, Amazon has produced three seasons, each adapting one of Child’s novels.

As a devoted fan, I’ve just wrapped up enjoying the third season of ‘Reacher’, based on the 2003 novel ‘Persuader’. It seems that Ritchson will grace our screens once more as Jack Reacher. Excitingly, the series has already been greenlit for a fourth season, slated for release in 2026. But, with 29 Jack Reacher novels at our disposal, it looks like Carlton Cuse might be penning this series for quite some time to come!

6
‘The Man with the Bag’

October 3, 2025

In a return to his comedic background, Alan Ritchson will star in an upcoming Christmas action-comedy titled “The Man with the Bag“. The story unfolds as Santa Claus finds himself in a predicament when his bag of gifts is stolen. To retrieve it, he turns to a small-time crook for assistance.

In this movie, Ritchson takes on the role of Vince, a small-time crook who teams up with Santa. Interestingly, Arnold Schwarzenegger portrays Santa in this film, marking his first Christmas action-comedy since the 1996 hit, “Jingle All the Way.“. The movie titled “The Man with the Bag” is scheduled for release on October 3, 2025. Given its star-studded cast, it’s safe to say that it promises a heap of hilarity.

5
‘Neagley’

2026

Alan Ritchson isn’t just working on one Jack Reacher project; the success of the show has led Amazon Prime Video to create a spin-off series as well. This new series, titled Neagley, will center around Frances Neagley, a former Army colleague of Reacher who was portrayed by Maria Sten in the original series. In Neagley, Sten will return to her role as Neagley, who embarks on a quest for truth after one of her old friends dies in an apparent accident.>

In terms of resembling the Reacher series, it’s not unexpected that Ritchson will show up as Reacher. However, we don’t know yet whether he’ll play a significant supporting role or just appear in a few episodes. As for Neagley, its release date is still undetermined, but it’s anticipated to air in 2026, coinciding with the fourth season of Reacher.

4
‘Playdate’

Release Date TBD

Besides “The Man with the Bag,” Ritchson also has another action-comedy in the pipeline titled “Playdate.” In this film, he joins forces with Kevin James and Isla Fisher. The story revolves around Brian (James), a man who loses his job and takes on the role of a stay-at-home dad. He accepts a playdate invitation from another stay-at-home dad, only to discover that this new acquaintance is utterly insane. It’s intriguing to speculate who might portray the crazy dad in the movie.

It’s quite impressive that Ritchson is open to continuing in comedic roles, despite his tough-guy persona in the series Reacher. As of now, there isn’t a confirmed release date for the movie Playdate, but it’s expected to hit theaters sometime between late 2025 and early 2026, since filming wrapped up in April 2024.

3
‘Motor City’

Release Date TBD

A movie titled “Motor City” that Ritchson is now involved with is an upcoming action-thriller. This project has been delayed in the production process since 2009. The script for this film, written by Chad St. John, was featured on the 2009 Hollywood Blacklist, which might seem more foreboding than it actually is. The Blacklist refers to an annual report highlighting the top unproduced screenplays.

Now, the long-awaited movie titled “Motor City” is about to be unveiled. Ritchson will share the screen with Shailene Woodley and Ben Foster. Unfortunately, there’s scant information available regarding this film, such as its release date. However, Foster did give a hint that might intrigue us: It seems “Motor City” may consist of just five lines of dialogue.

2
‘War Machine’

Release Date TBD

The movie titled “War Machine” is an action-packed science fiction film that revolves around the last trainees of a special ops training camp, who find themselves battling an ominous enemy from another dimension. The star-studded cast includes Alan Ritchson, Dennis Quaid, Stephan James, and Jai Courtney.

Due to Netflix purchasing the rights for distribution, there’s some ambiguity over whether the film “War Machine” will hit theaters or solely be streamed online. Additionally, it remains uncertain when exactly the movie will debut, but predictions point towards a late 2025 or early 2026 premiere. Actor Ritchson has been vocal about his enthusiasm for “War Machine,” calling it Netflix’s largest film production to date. We’ll simply have to stay tuned to find out if his assessment holds true.

1
‘Runner’

Release Date TBD

The movie titled “Runner” is the latest action-packed thriller that actor Alan Ritchson is currently involved with. This film tells the story of a skilled courier who must deliver a liver within three hours, traveling from Brisbane to the Gold Coast. Owen Wilson will be co-starring alongside Ritchson in this upcoming production.

Similar to “Motor City,” the film titled “Runner” made it onto the 2023 Hollywood Blacklist, a list of promising films that haven’t been produced yet. This upcoming project will be helmed by Scott Waugh, known for his work on action movies such as “Act of Valor” and “The Expendables 4.” As of now, “Runner” does not have a confirmed release date.

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2025-04-19 04:03