There are few actors who are as intimidating on screen asArnold Schwarzeneggerin his introduction as the Terminator. ButAlan Ritchson’s Jack Reacher could certainly give him a run for his money, and it seems that someone who agrees isRobert Patrick. Having appeared alongside both actors, Patrick revealed in a new interview which of the action heroes actually has the bigger muscles.
Having appeared as T-1000 inTerminator 2: Judgment Day,where he battled with Schwarzenegger’s “good” T-800, and more recentlyplayed the villainous Shane Langstonopposite Ritchson in the hit Prime Video series ofReacher, Patrick seems to be in the perfect place to comment on which of the mighty men is physically superior. When asked to spill the beans on the subject byCinemaBlend, Patrick said:
Alan’s bigger. Don’t tell Arnold I said that. . But right now, Alan in his present state and age, he’s bigger. … Alan encompasses a lot of similarities in the size of his massiveness of muscle gain. And he moves very well. And Arnold moves very well. They’re both athletic guys.
Related:How Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Linguistic Struggle with His Austrian Accent Became His Signature
Can Alan Ritchson Match Schwarzenegger’s Iconic Screen Presence?
Arnold Schwarzenegger is an industry unicorn; a one-off, never-to-be-repeated success story that is the stuff of Hollywood legend. Having dominated the action genre from his role in James Cameron’sThe Terminator, through movies such asPredator, Commando, The Expendablesand many more, the Austrian Oak’s on-screen charisma has made him one of the most recognizable figures in Hollywood.
Alan Ritchson is the new kid on the block when compared to Arnie, buthis physical appearancehas significantly impacted his choice of roles. He has portrayed Hawk inTitansand previously acknowledged his capability to play diverse characters, from superheroes to stepdads. However, in taking onthe role of Jack Reacherin Prime Video’s series, Ritchson has found the perfect role to match his physical strength and intimidating appearance.
The comparison between Ritchson and Schwarzenegger highlights the evolving nature of physicality in action movies over the last five decades. While Schwarzenegger’s physique set a benchmark in the 1980s, Ritchson’s transformation into Jack Reacher has raised the bar once again for the genre’s next icons to aim for.
Currently,Reacheris one of the biggest shows on TV, and even after being on release for just a few days at the end of the year, the second season became Prime Video’s biggest show of 2023.With season 3, and beyond, already in development, Ritchson’s career will only continue to grow, and who knows where it could lead in the future.
As for Schwarzenegger, well, he is not down and out yet. His new seriesFUBAR, which proved to be a cliché-ridden but thoroughly entertaining action comedy hit on Netflix,will return for a second season. There is also still a chance that he could reprise one of his earliest roles as Conan inThe Legend of Conan, which is still thought to be in development.
