Every major streaming platform needs its own marquee action star, and Netflix has finally secured theirs with Alan Ritchson‘s upcoming high-concept sci-fi thriller, “War Machine.” Fresh off his career-defining turn as the hulking vigilante in Amazon’s “Reacher,” Ritchson steps into what industry insiders are already whispering could be Netflix’s “biggest movie ever” — a bold claim that, given the platform’s recent splashy $200 million productions, shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Netflix banks on Alan Ritchson to deliver streaming’s next mega-hit with sci-fi thriller “War Machine” after his breakout success on “Reacher”
The Lionsgate-produced thriller, directed by “Hitman’s Bodyguard” helmer Patrick Hughes, centers around the final 24 hours of what’s described as the world’s toughest selection program for Army Rangers. Ritchson leads a stacked ensemble including Jai Courtney, Dennis Quaid, and Esai Morales, who must face a threat “beyond imagination” — cryptic marketing-speak that typically translates to “monsters, aliens, or both.” Ritchson himself has boldly proclaimed this project as “the coolest thing Netflix has ever made.”
Filmed in Australia, the production has apparently impressed everyone involved, with cast members not-so-subtly hinting at the film’s ambition. Co-star Jai Courtney has expressed great enthusiasm about the project despite not having seen the final cut yet. Using AI-powered cameras, the production team captured stunning action sequences with unprecedented real-time precision. For Ritchson, this represents another notch in his action-hero belt, following a career trajectory that’s included everything from playing Aquaman on “Smallville” to battling genetically enhanced turtles in the “TMNT” franchise.
Hughes, never one to shy away from over-the-top action sequences, appears to be swinging for the fences with “War Machine.” The director’s approach blends survival thriller elements with high-concept sci-fi, pushing both the physical and psychological limits of its characters, much like Ritchson himself did when he jumped into directing with 2021’s “Dark Web: Cicada 3301.”
Netflix’s algorithm wizards are certainly salivating at the prospect of another testosterone-fueled epic to add to their catalog. If “War Machine” delivers on even half the buzz it’s generating, the streaming giant might find itself with the action franchise it’s been hunting for.
And Ritchson? He might just cement his status as streaming’s most reliable muscle-bound savior, equally comfortable breaking bones as he is breaking viewing records.