“Reacher” star Alan Ritchson has lined up a new starring role. Per The Hollywood Reporter, Ritchson will star in the upcoming holiday-themed family comedy, “The Man with the Bag.” The film is in the works for Amazon Studios, with Adam Shankman on board to direct the upcoming feature.
‘Reacher’ Star Alan Ritchson Tapped To Star In Amazon Comedy ‘The Man With The Bag’
Shankman (“Hairspray,” “Disenchanted”) will direct the feature from a script by Allan Rice (“Stuck in the Middle”). The film is said to be a family comedy heist that follows Santa Claus’s magical bag of gifts being stolen. With nowhere left to turn, Santa goes to his naughty list to find help, recruiting an expert thief named Vance (Ritchson) to help track down his magic bag.
Vance is fresh out of prison, looking to go on the straight-and-narrow, and trying to spend a regular Christmas free of crime with his family. However, now he must team up with his daughter and a group of misfit elves to pull off the heist of a lifetime to get back Santa’s magic bag to save all of Christmas.
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Based on the premise, it sounds like “The Santa Clause” with Tim Allen mixed with “Ocean’s 11.” Ritchson will also produce the project. Lawrence Grey, Ben Everard, Reg Tigerman, and Dan Spilo are also attached as producers for the film.
Ritchson previously portrayed Hank Hall, aka the superhero Hawk, in the DC comic book series, “Titans,” throughout the first three seasons. He later starred in the breakout smash-hit Amazon Prime Video hit series, “Reacher,” based on the book series by Lee Child. The show was the first Prime Video original series to chart at No. 1 on Nielsen’s weekly streaming rankings and one of the streamer’s most-binged original shows. The series was quickly renewed for a second season just three days after its launch.
Due to the success of “Reacher,” Ritchson soon signed a three-picture acting deal with the streamer, and “The Man with the Bag” reportedly falls under his three-film contract. He’s collaborating with Shankman, a veteran comedy director who has worked on such hit films as “The Wedding Planner” and “Bringing Down the House.” His most recent feature was the Disney+ original film, “Disenchanted,” released last November.
Ritchson also appears in this summer’s hit film and sequel, “Fast X,” opposite Vin Diesel, Jason Momoa, John Cena, Brie Larson, and Michelle Rodriguez. Coincidentally, Shankman previously directed Diesel in the 2005 hit comedy, “The Pacifier.”
Diesel also recently announced that “Fast X – Part 2,” the next installment of the “Fast and Furious” franchise, is due on April 4, 2025. Ritchson looks like a good bet to return for the upcoming sequel. Amazon Prime Video’s “Reacher” Season 2 has not yet an official launch date. However, it’s expected to debut later this year. Ritchson announced that filming wrapped on Season 2 earlier in February.