“I would have been an entitled a**hole”: Alan Ritchson Considered Getting Fired from Aquaman Role a Blessing After Replacing Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher

Alan Ritchson found himself in the news for starring in Amazon Prime Videos’ Reacher. The series, which is based on Lee Child’s Jack Reacher book series, has been renewed for another season. The Above the Shadows star must count himself a happy man. But his start to life in the industry was far from how anyone would have wanted it to be. To Ritchson’s credit, he did not let himself be swayed by that.

How Alan Ritchson bagged his Aquaman pilot?

Alan Ritchson kickstarted his career by guest-starring as Aquaman in multiple episodes of Smallville. It is safe to say that his role was a success. His appearance gave Warner Bros. its highest-rated Thursday night ever.

Ritchson’s resounding success in the role of Arthur Curry meant that the studio decided to create an Aquaman series itself. These efforts culminated in the release of an Aquaman pilot, Mercy Reef featuring the Blue Mountain State: The Rise of Thadland star.

Also Read: “He wants to move on”: Alan Ritchson Was Warned by Producer to Not Send His Heartfelt Letter to Tom Cruise After Replacing Him as Jack Reacher for a Specific Reason

CW directors did not want to see Alan Ritchson in the main position

Alan Ritchson’s role in the show seemed to be fixed. But as the shooting of the pilot inched closer, WB and UPN merged, giving birth to what we know as CW. The onset of the new network brought with it a lot of changes. The cast of Mercy Reef was one of them.

The men at the higher echelons of CW did not want to see the Titans star in an important capacity. They set about the task of finding a replacement. Their answer – NBC’s soap opera Passions star Justin Hartley.

Also Read: “That is the last time I’ve worn shorts”: Tom Cruise’s Jack Reacher Replacement Alan Ritchson Hit the Gym After Being Shamed at 17 That Made Him a Living Muscle Tank 

Alan Ritchson didn’t let losing out on Aquaman get to him

Right before shooting was about to commence, they added Justin Hartley to the cast. In the end, the project was scrapped at the pilot stage. Yet it was an important milestone in Ritchson’s career. Reflecting on everything that happened, he said,

“I learned the best lesson I could, early on, to hold loosely to this stuff, because nothing is guaranteed, and nothing is owed to me. If I hadn’t learned that lesson early, I would have been an entitled a**hole.”

The 40-year-old star knows that his career wouldn’t have been the same without this wake-up call, something he will forever be indebted for.

Also Read: “I’ll take my rage out on him”: Alan Ritchson Reveals His Deep Hatred for Jason Momoa After Starring in Fast X Together for an Old Grudge 

Source: TV Line