'I wasn't mad at all': Alan Ritchson reflects on being replaced as TV's Aquaman

Once upon a time, Alan Ritchson was destined to be TV's Aquaman, but as fate would have it, the tides turned. Ritchson, who now stars in the renewed Prime Video series 'Reacher', reflects on his unique journey in the industry, the importance of staying buoyant amidst change, and the wisdom he garnered from the experience.

"I wasn't mad at all; why would I be mad?" - Riding the Waves of Change

In the Fall of 2005, Ritchson made waves by guest-starring as Arthur "A.C." Curry, aka Aquaman, in multiple episodes of 'Smallville'. His splashy performance gave The WB its highest-rated Thursday night ever, leading to the development of an Aquaman pilot, 'Mercy Reef'. But when it came time to shoot the pilot, Justin Hartley, now a star of 'This Is Us', had been selected to take over the role.

Ritchson revealed on Michael Rosenbaum's 'Inside of You' podcast that the change didn't upset him. He shared that he felt "overwhelmed" at the thought of continuing the role, as 'Smallville' had been his first gig. He emphasized, "I learned the best lesson I could, early on, to hold loosely to this stuff, because nothing is guaranteed, and nothing is owed to me."

"Who the hell is that guy?" - A Change in Tides

Ritchson explained how, as the pilot's production approached and The WB and UPN were merging to form The CW, the new network's boss questioned his casting. However, Ritchson took it in stride, saying, "We started working on a deal… and the president of UPN… was looking at this roster of shows and going, 'Who the hell is that guy?'"

Ritchson's agents fought against the casting change, but to no avail. Hartley, fresh from the NBC soap opera 'Passions', was available, and the network decided to bring him on board.

Ultimately, TV's version of Aquaman was scrapped at the pilot stage. Regardless, Ritchson's professional resilience demonstrated a significant lesson for all actors. He sums it up perfectly: "if I hadn’t learned that lesson early, I would have been an entitled a—hole.”

Indeed, it appears that Ritchson's stint as the original Aquaman has not dampened his spirit or career. He continues to make a splash in the world of television, reminding us all of the tides of change that the industry brings.

Sources: As reported by TVLine and Inside of You podcast.

Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.