Alan Ritchson, known for his role as Jack Reacher, is reportedly set to star in the upcoming Helldivers movie, replacing Jason Momoa. The Hollywood Reporter shared the update, stating that Momoa withdrew from the project due to creative differences with director Justin Lin, with whom he previously worked on Fast X. This would mark Ritchson's first time headlining a major studio feature.
Details about the Helldivers movie remain scarce, though it is slated for a November 10, 2027 release. Gary Dauberman, who also penned the script for Five Nights at Freddy's 3, is credited with the initial version of the Helldivers screenplay.
Ritchson's casting comes after his success in Amazon's adaptation of the Jack Reacher novels, where his imposing physical presence and action sequences contributed to the series' popularity. The Helldivers movie adaptation has experienced a somewhat convoluted development, beginning with the announcement of the film and Momoa's initial casting, followed by his departure.
While the loss of Momoa's star power might raise questions, the shift could position the film more firmly within the realm of direct-to-video B-movies, a direction some observers see as a positive for the adaptation of the alien-blasting video game.