Reacher’s Alan Ritchson Admits Action is His “Bread and Butter” but Wants to Play “Historical Figures”

Alan Ritchson may be known for his action roles, but the Reacher star has high aspirations for his career and wants to show what he is capable of with different characters and a variety of genres.

The actor made his debut on the small screen in 2005 in Smallville, playing Arthur Curry/Aquaman, showing from that moment that he had the aptitude to develop in the world of action, or simply for roles where physical appearance was one of the most important characteristics. The same thing happened with Blue State Mountain, a series where he played Kevin Devlin “Thad” Castle, the captain of the football team. And although his career includes all types of projects, the ones that have most marked his career were The Hunger Games, Titans, his role in the successful Prime Video series Reacher, or his recent participation in the Fast & Furious saga, all physically demanding.

Ritchson spoke exclusively with MovieWeb about his next film, Ordinary Angels, and confessed that despite loving action movies, he also wants to continue growing with other types of projects in the future:

“I love the action space. I mean, it’s kind of really my bread and butter and probably always will be. It’s just, I’m built for it. So, there’s a lot of that ahead in my future, and I’m looking forward to all those projects. But when you have the opportunity to tell a true story or play a historical figure, I mean, it’s really a great gift to an artist like myself, and it’s a huge challenge and a huge risk. And you really want to be authentic in those moments and honor their journey. But it really is like kind of the highest calling, I think, as an actor. So, I do look out for a lot of those roles, whether a father otherwise.”

What’s Ordinary Angels About?

The film directed by Jon Gunn (The Case for Christ) follows the story of Shannon, a woman who discovers a new purpose in her life when she meets a widower and his daughters. He works hard to give them everything they need, but it is difficult, especially with the youngest daughter needing medical attention. Shannon attempts to do everything she can to help them, creating a unique bond with the father and his daughters, and restoring their faith and hope in miracles. Check out the official synopsis:

“Based on a remarkable true story, ORDINARY ANGELS centers on Sharon (Hilary Swank), a fierce but struggling hairdresser in small-town Kentucky who discovers a renewed sense of purpose when she meets Ed (Alan Ritchson), a widower working hard to make ends meet for his two daughters. With his youngest daughter waiting for a liver transplant, Sharon sets her mind to helping the family and will move mountains to do it. What unfolds is the inspiring tale of faith, everyday miracles, and ordinary angels.”

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In addition to Ritchson, who plays the girls’ father, the film stars Academy Award winner Hilary Swank as Shannon. Joining them are Nancy Travis (Last Man Standing), Tamala Jones (Castle), Amy Acker (9-1-1: Lone Star), Drew Powell (Gotham), Skywalker Hughes (Joe Pickett), and Emily Mitchell (Women Talking).