Noah Romsdal Hallundbæk Sørensen
Alan Ritchson’s upcoming project War Machine could be more than just another action role.
Alan Ritchson’s steady rise through Hollywood has been hard to miss. Once known for supporting roles on television, he is now headlining major action projects.
His latest film, War Machine, may prove pivotal.
The movie positions him at the center of a high-stakes sci-fi battle that echoes some of the genre’s most iconic franchises.
From TV to titan
Ritchson first gained recognition in series such as Smallville and Titans before breaking through as Jack Reacher on Prime Video. That role, built around a physically imposing and stoic hero, pushed him firmly into the action spotlight.
He followed up with appearances in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, Fast & Furious, and Playdate, strengthening his reputation as a dependable big-screen bruiser.
Now, War Machine casts him as the leader of an Army Ranger unit that encounters a mysterious and seemingly unstoppable threat. The film centers on soldiers confronting a powerful, alien force, placing Ritchson in command against overwhelming odds.
Terminator’s future
The timing is notable. The Terminator franchise has struggled in recent decades, with Terminator: Dark Fate receiving mixed reviews and disappointing box office returns.
According to previous public comments, director James Cameron is developing Terminator 7. Both Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger have acknowledged that the long-running T-800 character cannot front the series indefinitely.
Any continuation will likely require a commanding new presence, whether as a hero or a cybernetic antagonist. Ritchson’s name has increasingly surfaced in fan discussions about who could inherit that mantle, thanks largely to his imposing screen persona in Reacher.
A familiar formula
War Machine shares clear DNA with Predator: a tight-knit military team, an isolated setting, and an otherworldly enemy hunting them down.
The parallel is striking given Schwarzenegger’s role as Dutch in the 1987 classic. In War Machine, Ritchson steps into a similar leadership position, guiding his squad against a superior force.
With the Predator franchise finding renewed momentum through titles such as Prey and Predator: Badlands, the sci-fi action genre appears primed for reinvention. By contrast, Terminator has yet to regain stable footing.
If War Machine succeeds, it could serve as a proving ground for Ritchson’s ability to embody the kind of commanding, minimalistic intensity long associated with Schwarzenegger. That performance may ultimately influence who becomes the next face of the cyborg saga.
Sources: ScreenRant
