If there is a DC character, odds are about one in three that Smallville referenced or adapted them. Aquaman is no exception to this, as Alan Ritchson first made a splash as Arthur "AC" Curry/Aquaman in season five, episode four, "Aqua." He went on to reprise his role a few more times throughout the next five seasons of Smallville, including in the series' iconic DC crossover episode, "Justice," which featured a team-up between a young Superman, Aquaman, Green Arrow, Cyborg, and Impulse.
The Superman prequel series initially followed a high school-age Clark Kent (Tom Welling) as he balanced teenage growing pains, a budding friendship with Lex Luthor, and discovering his Kryptonian heritage. Later seasons saw Clark transition into the hero and journalist fans know him to be. This paved the way for heroes like Aquaman to become a more substantial presence in Smallville, with the show even adding recurring player Justin Hartley's Oliver Queen/Green Arrow as a main character starting with season eight.
Despite being a long-running series with an active fanbase, modern audiences aren't quite as familiar with its cast and characters, something proven by one X 's ironic fan cast. Sharing a side-by-side image of Ritchson and Aquaman from the comics, @LorenzoGrech13 wrote "I’m hoping you see the vision here." In response, @tylerayyeee fired back with "you’re never gonna believe this."
What Alan Ritchson Being A Popular Casting Choice For Aquaman Now Means
Whether or not the original poster is aware of Ritchson's previous time as AC, he does still suit the role of Aquaman, perhaps even more so now. Since Smallville, the actor has starred in Titans, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, Fast X, and Reacher, among many other titles. Additionally, his profile is only growing, with some of his films including Fast X: Part 2 and Street Fighter. Clearly, the casting director of Smallville stumbled onto a great talent with Ritchson, who was new to acting when cast on the series.
James Gunn's DC Universe Has The Perfect Opportunity To Bring Alan Ritchson's 20-Year-Old Superhero Casting Full Circle
Alan Ritchson has long been rumored to the DCU, and recent events have created the perfect opportunity for him to reprise a surprising role.
Ritchson reflected on his Aquaman casting a couple of years ago, stating:
"I was the only guy out of probably 3,000 people they auditioned that didn’t come in with some kind of affectation. I was just coasting on these instincts to be natural. He just happens to be a superhero, but he’s also just a guy.”
Interestingly, Ritchson is one of the most popular actors to be fan-cast in superhero roles, specifically in James Gunn's fledgling DC Universe. While his hat has been tossed in the ring for Aquaman and Shazam, the actor has expressed strong interest in another major DC hero: Batman. When asked about the rumors he could play the Caped Crusader, Ritchson quipped: "Would I play Batman? Yes. Would I pay handsomely to be Batman? You wouldn't even have to pay me to be Batman."
Our Take On Alan Ritchson Being A Popular Casting Choice For Aquaman Now
Ritchson is a fan-favorite actor, largely due to his multiple roles in superhero media as well as the highly popular series Reacher. He now has much higher name recognition than during his Smallville days while still having that grounded quality he credits for snagging him the Aquaman role. Ritchson would be an asset to the DC Universe in any role, especially if he were to play Aquaman once again. Bringing back Ritchson as AC would simultaneously be a treat for Smallville fans and for modern audiences that now know him as an action star.
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