Alan Ritchson as Hank "Hawk" Hall in an episode of Titans. Image via HBO Max By Chelsea Adelaine Hassler Published Jul 18, 2026, 10:54 PM EDT Chelsea Adelaine Hassler is an editorial, social, and creative director with two decades of media and entertainment experience and an all-consuming obsession with TV. A native New Yorker, she always completes the Sunday crossword, reads at least 100 books per year, and has Knicks season tickets. Sign in to your Collider account Add Us Like Like follow Follow followed Followed Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap Before Reacher made Alan Ritchson a household name, he spent years as a journeyman actor with a familiar face. The former model first broke through when he famously serenaded Paula Abdul during American Idol auditions , launched into acting as the first-ever live-action Aquaman in Smallville , and built a cult following as unhinged football captain Thad Castle in Blue Mountain State . Over nearly two decades, he played everything from a young Norm Scully in Brooklyn Nine-Nine to Raphael in the live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles , but his best role is one we don't talk about nearly enough: as Hank "Hawk" Hall in Titans .
Ritchson's imposing physical presence comes with a profound capability to display emotional vulnerability , making him a natural fit for action and superhero casting. But he was deemed too inexperienced when Smallville considered spinning off Aquaman, was turned down for Thor because producers said he didn't have "the craft," and was told he was too old for the role of Finnick Odair in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and g iven a smaller part instead. The Greg Berlanti -led Titans was the first franchise to play off his true potential; he plays a central role that showcases the depths of his acting ability and delivers the best performance of his career, one that very clearly laid the groundwork for taking on the mantle of Jack Reacher .
Alan Ritchson as Hank Hall, Minka Kelly as Dawn Granger, and Brenton Thwaites as Dick Grayson in an episode of Titans. Image via HBO Max A gritty, mature, high-budget reimagining of the classic Teen Titans franchise, Titans premiered in 2018 and ran for four seasons; the first two were aired on the DC Universe streaming platform, then the show moved to HBO Max. Centered on a found family of young misfit heroes and vigilantes who band together to navigate their personal demons, master their abilities, and fight dark supernatural forces , the series opens with former Batman sidekick Dick Grayson ( Brenton Thwaites ) attempting to erase his violent Gotham past and live a normal life as a Detroit detective, but still moonlighting as Robin at night.
That all changes after demon-powered teenager Rachel "Raven" Roth ( Teagan Croft ) witnesses her mother's brutal murder, and after Dick takes her into his protection, is forced to reboot his former squad – the Titans – to fight the ongoing threats that they encounter , alongside fire-powered alien princess Kory "Starfire" Anders ( Anna Diop ), shapeshifting former Doom Patrol member Gar "Beast Boy" Logan ( Ryan Potter ), Batman's second Robin, Jason Todd ( Curran Walters ), the genetic offspring of Superman and Lex Luthor, Conner "Superboy" Kent ( Joshua Orpin ) and original Titans members Hank and his girlfriend, Dawn "Dove" Granger ( Minka Kelly ), better known as the…