Entertainment · TV & Streaming · 9 hrs ago
Smallville Creators Explain Why Alan Ritchson Was Not Cast in Aquaman Pilot
Alan Ritchson played Aquaman on Smallville, appearing as Arthur Curry in the series starting in 2005.
Warner Bros.
Television later ordered an Aquaman pilot starring Justin Hartley, rather than Ritchson.
Smallville creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar said Ritchson had only just started acting and had few credits.
They said they were unsure he could carry a series at that point in his career.
The pilot was never picked up, while Hartley later joined Smallville as Oliver Queen and appeared in more than 70 episodes.
Ritchson said network executives were uneasy about his limited experience, and he learned not to assume an acting opportunity was guaranteed.
Smallville creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar said Alan Ritchson was not cast in the Aquaman pilot because they did not think he was ready to lead a series.
Ritchson played Arthur Curry in Smallville, beginning with the show’s fifth season in 2005.
Warner Bros. Television ordered an Aquaman pilot starring Justin Hartley shortly after Ritchson’s debut.
Gough said the creators were not considering a spinoff when they introduced Aquaman on Smallville.
Ritchson later said he had been approached about the pilot but that the offer was never official.
- Who
- Smallville creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar explained the casting decision; Alan Ritchson played Aquaman in Smallville.
- What
- They said Ritchson was not cast in the Aquaman pilot because he lacked experience at the time. Justin Hartley starred in the pilot.
- When
- The pilot was ordered shortly after Ritchson’s Smallville debut in 2005; the creators discussed the decision in an interview published in 2026.
- Where
- The story concerns Smallville and the Aquaman television pilot. The pilot’s filming location is not stated.
- Why
- Gough and Millar said Ritchson had only just started acting and they were unsure he could lead a series.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Alan Ritchson debuted as Arthur Curry in Smallville’s fifth season.
Warner Bros. Television ordered an Aquaman pilot starring Justin Hartley.
Smallville ended.
Ritchson discussed the pilot on Michael Rosenbaum’s Inside of You podcast.
Gough and Millar discussed why Ritchson was not cast in the pilot in an interview with ScreenRant.
- Smallville debut
- 2005
- Aquaman role in Smallville
- Arthur Curry, played by Alan Ritchson
- Aquaman pilot star
- Justin Hartley
- Smallville creators
- Alfred Gough and Miles Millar
- Ritchson’s podcast interview
- 2022
What people are saying
I think Alan had just started acting, and I didn't necessarily think there was a sense that he could lead a show at that point in his career.
I mean, I think it was something where you're looking at the time of who can carry a series
I learned the best lesson I could early on to hold loosely to this stuff because nothing is guaranteed and nothing's owed to me.