Reacher star Alan Ritchson was told the role of Thor in the MCU was his to lose, but he didn’t take it seriously

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"I didn’t take it seriously"

Reacher
(Image credit: Prime Video)

It’s hard to imagine anyone other than Chris Hemsworth as Thor in the MCU, thanks to the actor’s iconic performance in the role. But it turns out that Reacher star Alan Ritchson was another frontrunner before he blew his audition for the God of Thunder.

Speaking to Men’s Health, the actor shared his experience of auditioning for 2011’s Thor. He said: "I didn’t take it seriously. I was like, 'They’ll throw me the part if I look like the guy; nobody really cares about acting.'" However, he revealed that after the audition, the casting team told him that it had actually been his to lose, but he hadn’t shown that he had "the craft".

Since landing Reacher, Ritchson has built up an impressive body of work with roles in Fast X and the upcoming The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. However, he’s got a superhero job on his mind, having recently shared his reaction to fan hopes he could be cast as the DCU’s Batman.

"The fact that people are interested in me playing Batman is a real honor and privilege," he told the Post Cred Podcast. "It's one of the first characters I fell in love with as a child: I still remember the big, long pistol coming out of Joker's pants as he goes to shoot down the Batplane."

He's been kept busy with Reacher too, which is almost finished shooting its third season. Before that, he’ll be starring alongside Henry Cavill in Guy Ritchie’s next movie, which looks wild from its first trailer.

For more on all things superhero, here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming superhero movies on the way as well as how to watch the Marvel movies in order.

Fay Watson
Fay Watson
Deputy Entertainment Editor

I’m the Deputy Entertainment Editor here at GamesRadar+, covering TV and film for the Total Film and SFX sections online. I previously worked as a Senior Showbiz Reporter and SEO TV reporter at Express Online for three years. I've also written for The Resident magazines and Amateur Photographer, before specializing in entertainment.