Alan Ritchson has had a successful career playing comic book heroes, most famously as Hawk in Titans and the title character in Reacher. But long before he signed on to the DC series, the actor was auditioning for a very different role in the same universe. Ritchson recently opened up at San Diego Comic-Con 2026 about the audition process that nearly landed him a part as one of DC’s most iconic young heroes before his career took a different direction. 

The actor's story revealed how one unexpected casting decision ultimately shaped his career in the DC Universe. 

Alan Ritchson revealed at San Diego Comic-Con 2026 that he originally auditioned for the lead role of Dick Grayson, aka Robin, in Titans, but lost the part to Brenton Thwaites. The Reacher star has admitted he was so sure he had bagged the role that he celebrated by buying something expensive immediately after the audition. But the production team called back with unexpected news, offering him the role of Hank Hall. 

"I walked away so confident that I got the part that I bought a Tesla that day," he recalled, joking that his wife questioned the purchase until he insisted he had booked the role. 

Looking back on the experience, the Reacher actor said during the same interview that soon after he received a call that although he would not be playing Robin, the producers still wanted him on the series as Hawk, which he was happy to do. He also discussed the unpredictable nature of television casting. He further talked about how other panelists in the Comic- Con have had characters change during the course of production. 

Ritchson, who is all set for his upcoming War Machine sequel, said that actors rarely see the creative decisions made behind the scenes, and this is a chance to see how the whole thing works. He had been disappointed to miss out on Robin, but the experience eventually culminated in a role that became a defining part of his superhero career and introduced him to a wider audience. It was a twist that became a turning point, as Hawk went on to become one of the breakout characters in the DC series. 

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Although he never got the chance to play Robin, Ritchson went on to leave a lasting impression as one of Titans' most memorable heroes. 

Alan Ritchson starred as Hank Hall, one half of the vigilante duo Hawk and Dove with Dawn Granger, in Titans. Hank was portrayed as an aggressive, trauma-driven crime-fighter whose impulsiveness often conflicted with the more level-headed demeanor of his partner. During the first two seasons, he was a troubled ally of Dick Grayson and the Titans before his story ended tragically in Season 3 when he was murdered by Red Hood, but he later made a final spectral appearance that brought closure to his arc. 

Meanwhile, Alan Ritchson’s Comic-Con story is a funny reminder of how unpredictable the casting process can be in Hollywood. Though he missed out on playing Robin to begin with, the setback led him to the role of Hawk, one of the defining performances of his career before he found even greater success with Reacher. His experience is a reminder that sometimes unexpected opportunities can have a bigger impact than the roles actors set out to land. 

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Were you surprised to learn Alan Ritchson almost played Robin before becoming Hawk in Titans? Let us know in the comment section.