Alan Ritchson has been grinding in Hollywood for nearly two decades, and it’s finally paying off in a major way. This week he headlines“Runner,”his first wide theatrical release from a major distributor, playing a reformed tough guy whose mission to deliver a liver to a sick girl gets hijacked by armed thieves. Owen Wilson co-stars, so expect the action to come with a side of comedy.
If you know Ritchson from“Reacher,”you’re not alone. The Prime Video series is in its fourth season and has shattered viewership records for the platform. He’s also guest-starring on the spinoff“Neagley,”which premieres September 16. But his credits stretch way back, from motion-capture work in 2007’s“Beowulf”and“TMNT”to“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,”“Fast X,”and the heartfelt drama“Ordinary Angels”with Hilary Swank. Guy Ritchie also tapped his comedic timing in“The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.”
The buzz around Ritchson is that his ceiling could be Stallone or Schwarzenegger-level stardom, with Jason Statham as the floor. Next up, he’s starring opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Christmas 2026 Prime Video film“The Man With the Bag,”where Arnold plays Santa Claus. Not a bad trajectory for a guy who started as a motion-capture body model. Are you planning to see“Runner”in theaters?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.