Christmas has come early for Alan Ritchson.
The star of Reacher is set to star The man with the bag, a family holiday comedy that Adam Shankman will direct for Amazon Studios. Alan rice (Stuck in the middle) wrote the script for the feature film project in development.
Man with the bagSanta’s plot is set in motion when Santa’s magical bag of gifts is stolen, forcing him to consult his naughty list to find help. He enlists the help of expert Vance (Ritchson), a charming thief fresh out of prison, trying to go straight, while trying to have a normal crime-free Christmas with his family. The thief, with the help of his daughter and a group of misfits, must pull off the biggest heist of his life to save Christmas.
In addition to starring, Ritchson will also produce. Lawrence Grey, Ben Everard, Reg Tigerman and Dan Spilo also produce.
Ritchson was a regular on DC series Titans but broke through with Reacher, Amazon’s series based on the books by Lee Child. The series has been a runaway success for the company, becoming the first Prime Video series to reach No. 1 on Nielsen’s weekly streaming rankings. It also became one of Prime Video’s most-watched original series ever, as well as being in the top five most-watched series in the US and worldwide. It was quickly picked up in season two and the actor signed a three-picture acting deal. Man with the bag falls under that agreement.
The Shankman directing veteran is known for his mildly comedic streak, with a resume that ranges from The wedding planner And Break everything down Unpleasant Hair spray And Rock of Ages. He last directed last year’s Disney+ feature Disillusioned which starred Amy Adams.
Ritchson, who is currently starring on the big screen in Fast Xis represented by WME, Industry Entertainment and Hansen Jacobson.
Shankman is represented by UTA and Sloane Offer, while Rice is represented by A3 Agency, Tigerman Management and Jackoway Tyerman.
