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Tag: Alan Ritchson

  • Alan Ritchson Returns to Queensland to Begin Filming Sylvester Stallone-Produced Navy SEAL Pic for Amazon MGM Studios

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    Alan Ritchson is returning to Queensland, Australia to begin production on an untitled Amazon MGM Studios feature about decorated Navy SEAL hero Mike Thornton, Screen Queensland has revealed.

    Principal photography kicks off this month at Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast. The project marks Ritchson’s return to the region following his recent action thriller “Runner,” which filmed in Brisbane and the Gold Coast in 2025.

    Australian director Patrick Hughes is helming the project, which chronicles Thornton’s real-life survival story in the South China Sea that earned him a Congressional Medal of Honor. Ritchson, known for his roles in “Reacher” and “Fast X,” stars alongside Joe Cole (“Subversion,” “A Prayer Before Dawn”) and Hoa Xuande (“The Sympathizer,” “Avatar: The Last Airbender”).

    Sylvester Stallone and D. Matt Geller are producing under Balboa Productions, alongside Hidden Pictures’ Todd Lieberman and Alex Young, Ritchson’s AllyCat Entertainment, and Alan Rautbort. Executive producers are Valerie Bleth Sharp and Mike Thornton. The screenplay was written by Mark Semos (“SEAL Team,” “Y: Marshals”), Ritchson and Jason Hall (“American Sniper,” “Thank You for Your Service”).

    The film is supported by the Australian government through the Location Offset, the Queensland government through Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy and the City of Gold Coast’s Screen Attraction Program.

    The production was secured for Queensland through Screen Queensland’s Production Strategy and the federal government’s Location Offset.

    Acting Minister for the Arts Tim Nicholls said the project demonstrates strong momentum for screen production in the state heading into 2026 under the Crisafulli Government.

    “This latest project for Amazon MGM Studios will create employment for around 260 local cast and crew while injecting an estimated AUD50 million ($33.5 million) into the Queensland economy and supporting numerous small businesses,” Nicholls said in a statement, adding that the government remains committed to keeping Queensland as the country’s top destination for screen production.

    Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney highlighted the state’s expertise with military and water-based productions as key factors in the production’s return to Queensland.

    “Queensland crews have an internationally renowned reputation for delivering complex action films and series and it’s fantastic to start the new year with such an ambitious production coming into Village Roadshow Studios,” Feeney said.

    Hughes said he was excited to bring the project back to Australia. “The Gold Coast offers world-class crews, facilities, and locations, making it an ideal home for a production of this scale,” the “Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” director said. “I’m thrilled to be working with Screen Queensland to bring this film to life.”

    The Mike Thornton project joins a growing slate of Queensland-based films for Amazon MGM Studios, including “Balls Up,” “The Bluff,” “Voltron” and “Subversion.”

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    Naman Ramachandran

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  • This ‘Reacher’ Star Was Almost Thor in the MCU

    This ‘Reacher’ Star Was Almost Thor in the MCU

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    Feb 29th, 2024, 7:17 pm

    Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson) sits across from Oscar Finlay (Malcom Goodwin) in Amazon

    With his muscular physique and square jaw, Alan Ritchson looks like he stepped out of the pages of a comic book. And while the Reacher star got his break playing Aquaman in Smallville, he was almost cast in many of our favorite superhero projects.

    In an interview with Men’s Health, Ritchson describes his experience auditioning in the early days of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ritchson auditioned for the title role in Thor (2011), a role that ultimately went to Chris Hemsworth.

    “I didn’t take it seriously,” he said. “I was like, ‘They’ll throw me the part if I look like the guy; nobody really cares about acting.’ ” After the audition, the casting cabal told his team the role had been his to lose but he hadn’t shown that he had “the craft.” Chris Hemsworth would be Thor, and Ritchson would simmer for another decade.”

    Men’s Health

    The rejection inspired Ritchson to take some acting classes and hone his craft. Years later, he would come close to starring in HBO Max’s Titans as Nightwing. “I was so confident. I was like, ‘This is the best damn audition I’ve ever had in my life. There’s no way they can do this show without me,’ ” he said. Ritchson was so confident in his audition that he pre-emptively bought a Tesla, only to discover he was passed over for Brenton Thwaites.

    Ritchson later joined the series as Hank Hall/Hawk, a role he would reprise in Supergirl and Legends of Tomorrow. Now that Ritchson has broken through with the success of Reacher, he’s likely fielding offers from DC and Marvel. Or at the very least, getting another audition. I think Ritchson would make a fantastic Booster Gold. Just putting that out there, DC!

    (featured image: Prime Video)

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    Chelsea Steiner

    Chelsea was born and raised in New Orleans, which explains her affinity for cheesy grits and Britney Spears. An pop culture journalist since 2012, her work has appeared on Autostraddle, AfterEllen, and more. Her beats include queer popular culture, film, television, republican clownery, and the unwavering belief that ‘The Long Kiss Goodnight’ is the greatest movie ever made. She currently resides in sunny Los Angeles, with her husband, 2 sons, and one poorly behaved rescue dog. She is a former roller derby girl and a black belt in Judo, so she is not to be trifled with. She loves the word “Jewess” and wishes more people used it to describe her.

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    Chelsea Steiner

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  • ‘Reacher’ Doesn’t Seem To Be Stopping Any Time Soon

    ‘Reacher’ Doesn’t Seem To Be Stopping Any Time Soon

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    Season two of Amazon Prime Video’s Reacher just ended, and fans are already wondering if they’ll get a third season.

    In 2022, season one of Reacher brought the best-selling book series by Lee Child to life. Although fans had to wait until the end of 2023 for season two, it seems to be worth the wait. Reacher is currently the top-streamed show on Amazon, and it’s easy to see why. There are mysteries to solve and a lot of butt-kicking action to enjoy. Alan Ritchson, who also starred as Hank Hill/Hawk in Titans, plays the titular Jack Reacher, and he means business when it comes to bad guys stepping out of line.

    Reacher, a former U.S. Army military policeman, lives the life of a vagabond, only stopping when the action compels him. He may have bulging muscles that could make him look like a bit of a himbo, but he’s got enough brains to solve crimes and spout witty quips. He’s the complete package. As Reacher wraps up season 2, does that mean we’ll have to say goodbye?

    Related: Is Joe Cruz leaving ‘Chicago Fire?’ on We Got This Covered?

    Is there going to be a season 3 of Reacher?

    With the current popularity of the show, it’s safe to say that fans would love to see another season of Reacher. Luckily, that wish will come true. Before season two premiered, Amazon revealed at CCXP in early December that the show already has the green light for a third season. So, we’ll get to see Jack Reacher settling things his way for at least one more adventure.

    Before Reacher and his team got revenge at the end of season 2, news about season 3 already leaked. In an interview with The Messenger, Child discussed the production had chosen the book choice for the new season.

    “We felt we needed a book that was more Reacher alone for the third season. And so it was a question of which story would work best for that, and which one would have a great opening scene and all of that, and we found one that we loved.”

    To add to Child’s comments, Ritchson said this book is “on every Top 10 list.” Now Variety confirmed season three will be based on the seventh book in the series, Persuader. In Persuader Reacher seeks revenge on an old enemy while diving into the world of organized crime. Variety also noted one character from the first two seasons shall return, Frances Neagley (Maria Sten). Neagley is the closest thing Reacher has to a best friend, especially in the show, so it makes sense she will appear, even though she is not featured in the novel.

    Only a few days ago, Ritchson posted on social media the production for season 3 is underway. That means we’ll be seeing more of Reacher sooner rather than later.

    As long as the show maintains its viewership, it could go on for years. The source material spans 28 books and several short stories. Since the novels don’t deal with an overly impactful timeline, the show can adapt them in whatever order it sees fit. For example, the first season came from the first novel, Killing Floor, yet the second season took from the eleventh novel, Bad Luck and Trouble. Plus, author Lee Child plans to continue writing Jack Reacher’s story before passing the writing duties off to his younger brother, Andrew Child. It looks like Reacher will be punching hard for some time to come.

    (featured image: Brooke Palmer/Prime Video)

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    D.R. Medlen

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