First Look: Alan Ritchson in ‘Motor City’ — Even More Jacked Than in ‘Reacher’

by

Alan Ritchson has returned to the silver screen with an even more muscular physique. Starring as the lead in the upcoming action-thriller “Motor City,” directed by Potsy Ponciroli and written by Chad St. John, this movie will have its world premiere in the Spotlight section of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival.

The narrative unfolds around John Miller, an automobile worker from Detroit, whose world crumbles when he is falsely accused and incarcerated for a crime. After spending numerous years in prison, his sole purpose upon release is to track down those responsible for framing him. In this adaptation, Ritchson assumes the character of Miller, offering a more robust and intimidating portrayal than fans have previously witnessed from him.

The city famously known as Motor City has taken a long journey from script to screen. The script penned by Chad St. John gained significant attention in 2009 when it was included on the Black List, an esteemed collection of unproduced screenplays that Hollywood appreciates most. In 2011, Warner Bros. expressed intentions for turning it into a film, with Albert Hughes slated to direct and Chris Evans offered the main role. However, this particular rendition never materialized, and the project remained in developmental stages for quite some time.

In May of 2023, Deadline announced that Ritchson had become part of the project, with Timur Bekmambetov set to be the director. However, by May of 2024, there was another shift. Potsy Ponciroli stepped in as the new director, and Shailene Woodley, Ben Foster, and Pablo Schreiber joined the cast.

Filming for “Motor City” started in July 2024, with scenes being captured in New Jersey and al-Ula. NJ.com reported in August that filming was still ongoing in New Jersey. Later on, Ben Foster disclosed an interesting fact about the movie to Collider: it has only five lines of dialogue. This implies that “Motor City” might heavily rely on visuals, setting, and physical acting rather than conventional dialogues.

From the film, the initial snapshot reveals actor Ritchson in a muscular and focused stance, suggesting his character will face challenging physical tasks. The scene suggests a rough tale of vengeance, aligning with the movie’s apparent influence from gritty crime-thriller genre roots.

As a passionate cinema enthusiast, I can’t contain my excitement as I eagerly anticipate the premiere of “Motor City” at Venice. With its almost wordless script, pulse-pounding plot, and Ritchson delivering an impressive physical performance, this film promises to be one of the standout action movies of 2025, offering a truly distinctive experience.

Read More

2025-08-06 10:44