Ritchson in line for lead role
According to a report, Alan Ritchson is negotiating to take a lead role in Sony's film version of the PlayStation title Helldivers. The development comes after Jason Momoa left the production in early June, with insiders citing creative differences. Should the deal close, it would mark the first time the Reacher lead anchors a studio theatrical release. Sony has not commented on the talks.[S1]
Since landing the lead in Reacher, the action show that ranks among Prime Video's most popular offerings, Ritchson's career has risen steadily. His credits include the 2023 ensemble film Fast 10 and Lionsgate's 2024 release Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. In 2025 he headlined the acclaimed Motor City, helmed by Potsy Ponciroli for IFC, plus War Machine, a sci-fi action title that topped Netflix's yearly viewing and cracked its all-time top 10. He is currently in theaters with Runner, opposite Owen Wilson, via Angel Studios, and is repped by WME and Range Media.[S1]
Production details and timeline
The Helldivers film is being directed by Justin Lin and is scheduled to arrive on Nov. 10, 2027. A PlayStation Productions effort, it draws on the 2015 game and its follow-up, which together have moved over 12 million copies. The story follows Helldivers, an elite shock-trooper squad tasked with defending the made-up planet Super Earth against invading aliens. The game was created by Arrowhead Game Studios.[S1]
Sony gave audiences a taste of the adaptation at its CinemaCon showcase earlier this year, having initially unveiled the project at CES in 2025. Momoa signed on at the start of the year, only to depart by June. The first screenplay came from Dauberman, known for the successful It and Annabelle horror franchises, which drew Lin's interest; Lin is best recognized for the Fast & Furious films. Chris Bremner, whose credits include Bad Boys for Life and Bad Boys: Ride or Die, handled the latest draft. Producers are Hutch Parker, Asad Qizilbash and Lin.[S1]
