Alan Ritchson’s role in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is a sign that he could help save a spy movie franchise Henry Cavill tried to launch. Although the 2024 action war movie is a reunion between Guy Ritchie and Cavill, it is the first time that either of them has worked with Ritchson. The Reacher star plays a central role as Anders Lassen, and he is one of the best parts of The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. His charisma, comedic ability, and action pedigree work perfectly for the tone Guy Ritchie goes for and differentiates him a bit from Cavill.
It is refreshing to see Alan Ritchson tackle a role like the one featured in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, and it inspires hope that it will be the first of many collaborations between him and Guy Ritchie. The director is known for repeatedly using action stars that fit his unique sensibilities, such as Jason Statham and Henry Cavill. Ritchson could very well become another recurring cast member for Ritchie’s movies. In fact, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare indicates that Ritchson could be the key to saving the spy franchise Cavill and Ritchie attempted to start in 2015.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare proves that if The Man From U.N.C.L.E. 2 ever happens, Alan Ritchson would be Henry Cavill’s perfect co-star. Ritchie and Cavill previously rebooted The Man From U.N.C.L.E. as a potential spy movie franchise in 2015, decades after the property originated as a TV series. The movie followed Cavill’s CIA agent Napoleon Solo as he worked with Armie Hammer’s KGB agent Illya Kuryakin during the Cold War. The Man From U.N.C.L.E. excelled thanks to the chemistry of its stars, and Ritchson and Cavill certainly have a great on-screen rapport in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.
That is why it would be so exciting to see Alan Ritchson co-star in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. 2 opposite Cavill. The sequel could see Solo forced to work with a new agent played by Ritchson who works for a different international spy agency. This could give Cavill and Ritchson a different on-screen dynamic to explore in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. 2 if their characters did not like each other after playing close friends in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.
Alan Ritchson joining The Man From U.N.C.L.E. 2‘s cast would also help the sequel replace Armie Hammer. The franchise’s original co-star is unlikely to return following a string of controversies and allegations against him. Instead of Armie Hammer’s allegations completely preventing a Man From U.N.C.L.E. sequel from happening, Ritchie and Cavill would be smart to retool any plans for the franchise to involve Ritchson instead. Whether it would be as he is recast in Hammer’s role or introduced as a new character, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare shows Ritchson has what it takes to be Cavill’s new co-star.