Alan Ritchson Reveals The Secret To Mixing Action And Comedy In Playdate

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I have to say, Alan Ritchson really knows what he’s doing. With Prime Video’s Playdate, he’s brilliantly blended action and comedy – it’s a formula that clearly works for him! This movie continues his great relationship with Prime Video, following the huge success of Reacher, which just finished its latest season in early 2025. And the good news doesn’t stop there – we’re getting a fourth season and a spinoff series called Neagley! He’s definitely building something special over there.

Alan Ritchson stars in Playdate as Jeff, a dedicated stay-at-home dad who becomes friends with Brian, an accountant who recently lost his job. They meet by chance at a park, and when their sons are set up on a playdate, the four of them go to a pizza arcade. However, their fun outing quickly turns dangerous when mercenaries try to kill them, and Brian unexpectedly reveals a hidden past.

I’m really excited about Playdate! It’s directed by Luke Greenfield, who did Let’s Be Cops, and the script is from Neil Goldman, a name I remember from Scrubs. Plus, the cast is great – Kevin James, Sarah Chalke, Alan Tudyk, and Isla Fisher are all in it. It’s shaping up to be a fantastic year for Alan Ritchson, especially after all the buzz around Reacher season 3 and the positive reactions to Motor City when it premiered at Venice.

To celebrate the launch of his new show on Prime Video, Alan Ritchson spoke with ScreenRant. He shared his thoughts on what makes a comedy truly work, and talked about his enjoyable experience collaborating with Kevin James. They often improvised and went beyond the written script to make their scenes even funnier.

Ritchson Has 1 Big Secret To Making Good Comedy

Although many know Alan Ritchson for his action roles in shows like Smallville, Fast X, and Reacher, he actually started out in comedy. He first gained recognition for his part in the popular college football series Blue Mountain State, and later returned for the 2016 movie sequel. He’s also involved in a new revival of the show, alongside original cast members Darin Brooks and Chris Romano.

In Playdate, Ritchson combines his action background with comedic timing, showcasing fight scenes with both Banks Pierce’s character and their enemies. He explains that the key to the film’s physical comedy is maintaining genuine reactions – never letting the audience know the actors are trying to be funny, which helps sell the moments.

I believe great comedy comes from high-stakes situations where a character faces life-or-death consequences, and everything truly matters to them.

Ritchson Had “A Blast” Getting To Improv With Kevin James

Besides appearing in Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies produced by Michael Bay, Joe Ritchson is now known for playing strong, independent heroes. That’s why Playdate offers him a different kind of role – a chance to try out the classic buddy comedy dynamic, alongside the well-known comedic actor Kevin James.

Ritchson first met the Emmy-nominated James on Zoom while the movie was still being developed. Later, they had a more in-depth conversation after James expressed interest in the project. This discussion helped Ritchson realize that James is incredibly intelligent and dedicated to his work, even when tackling a comedy.

Ritchson said they quickly bonded over the project itself and a shared belief in its importance. He was particularly impressed with his co-star, praising their incredible improvisational skills and describing the on-set experience as a lot of fun. He considers the actor to be one of the best improvisers in the world.

One of the things that really struck me about working with James was how open he was to improvisation. We’d joke that the script was just a starting point, and James genuinely approached every scene like anything could happen. But it wasn’t about trying to rewrite things; he had this incredibly healthy attitude where he was willing to explore any comedic possibility, which was a blast to play off of.

As a movie fan, I’ve always been fascinated by what goes on behind the scenes. Alan Ritchson was talking about how, sometimes, actors will just flat-out refuse to do certain scenes or say certain lines. He said it’s frustrating because if they have a problem, it’s way more helpful to discuss it before filming, or offer an alternative. It’s not that they’re being difficult, he explained, it’s just that people sometimes get uncomfortable with things, and it’s better to address that proactively rather than just saying ‘no’.

Working with James was a blast. He’d often come to set with Greenfield and me buzzing with ideas for the script – always suggesting a couple of different ways we could play a scene. It felt like we were in a really flexible creative space, and honestly, it was super exciting. James is a comedy pro, and he’d keep bringing fresh takes to every moment, tweaking things right up until we finished shooting. He really helped elevate everything.

I really enjoy having the freedom to explore different ideas, and collaborating with him was great because we constantly pushed each other to find things that were both innovative and amusing. I especially appreciate that spirit of creativity.

Be sure to check out some of our other Playdate coverage with:

  • Our Playdate review
  • Interview with director/producer Luke Greenfield
  • Alan Ritchson confirming talks to join the DC Universe
  • Alan Ritchson’s biggest concern about Reacher season 4
  • Luke Greenfield’s hopes for a Let’s Be Cops sequel
  • Luke Greenfield’s thoughts on a Let’s Be Cops spinoff for Keegan-Michael Key’s character

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2025-11-13 01:30