Alan Ritchson is a rare breed in Hollywood. The refreshingly honest A-list action star is unafraid to get candid on everything from his winding journey in Hollywood to his views on politics, religion, and the hard work it takes to get to the top. In a new profile in GQ, Ritchson opens up on all of the above ahead of Reacher’s season three debut on Thursday.
Ritchson recently spoke out against politician Matt Gaetz, a classmate from his school days in Florida. “That motherfucker,” he said. “We are adversaries.” The House Ethics Committee released a report last year finding evidence that Gaetz had paid for sex and abused illegal drugs during his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Ritchson has considered entering politics to clean up the corners, but doubts his ability to succeed due to being too honest. He expressed admiration for Bernie Sanders’ commitment to staying true to himself but questioned whether he has accomplished enough. Ritchson has been an over-achiever since breaking out as Jack Reacher on Prime Video.
Reacher remains his beloved home base, with the show’s creator Lee Child praising Ritchson’s performance in a GQ interview. “The title character in a big show like this is effectively the on-field captain,” Child said. “He sets the standard.” Reacher showrunner Nick Santora also praised Ritchson for putting in long hours to learn his lines and work on fight sequences.
Ritchson has faced criticism from Christians about Reacher’s bedroom scenes, but he makes no distinction between fictional characters and real humans. He expressed his desire to have a conversation with God about the subject rather than being judged by others. As Reacher heads into its third season, Ritchson is thinking long-term about the show’s success and aims for season 10 to be the best yet.
Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/reacher-alan-ritchson-interview-gq-matt-gaetz-high-school-1236141497