Reacher star Alan Ritchson is in talks to replace Jason Momoa on the Helldivers movie.
The Hollywood Reporter says Ritchson, the star of the popular Prime series Reacher, is negotiating to take the lead on Sony’s upcoming Helldivers movie. If the deal closes, Ritchson will step into the role vacated by Momoa, who dropped out in June.
The casting switch is notable because Ritchson has recently become a major draw following the debut of Reacher in 2022. The Helldivers film was announced in February, with Momoa starring and Justin Lin directing. Lin is known for the Fast and Furious films. The reasons for Momoa’s exit were not explained, but his departure was a blow given his star power.
Ritchson’s Rise
Ritchson has appeared in numerous movies over the years, though he gained widespread recognition only after Reacher debuted in 2022. According to THR, this would be his first time headlining a major feature film.
His star has risen quickly since then. Ritchson’s role in Reacher involves wandering into small towns and breaking bad guys in half like dry twigs, which is the kind of physical performance that has defined his recent career. That same physicality is now at the center of the casting conversation for Helldivers.
The Casting Question
The writer is torn on the choice. Ritchson is huge, charismatic, and an action actor through and through. But the writer argues that Ritchson may be too heroic and too beefy for the role.
To the writer, Helldivers is about unremarkable, anonymous guys being fed into the meatgrinder of fascist imperialism. Ritchson, in contrast, comes across as too heroic and too physically imposing for that vision.
The writer’s preferred version of John Helldiver is a soft, compliant man of unremarkable talent who has suddenly realized he has made a very big mistake. Ritchson, in the writer’s view, is not built for that face.
| Ritchson | Momoa |
|---|---|
| Huge, charismatic, action-focused | Star power, recognizable face |
| First major lead role | Left the project in June |
What Happens Next
The film is currently slated for release on November 10, 2027. Given the uncertainty around the lead role, a pushback is possible.
The writer is amused by the casting contrast. Ritchson is huge, charismatic, and built for action. But the writer’s vision of a soft, unremarkable Helldiver is incompatible with Ritchson’s on-screen presence.
Whether Ritchson lands the role remains to be seen. Negotiations are still underway, and the film’s fate depends on whether Sony can lock down its lead before production begins.
The Helldivers movie will test whether Ritchson can carry a franchise lead. The comparison between Ritchson and Momoa shows how casting can reshape a project’s identity in a matter of months.
Source material: “Reacher star Alan Ritchson is in talks to replace Jason Momoa on the Helldivers movie,” PC Gamer.
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