Netflix’s Alan Ritchson Sci‑Fi Thriller Will Appeal to Reacher Fans

Netflix dropped the first trailer for War Machine, a new sci‑fi thriller starring Alan Ritchson and directed by Patrick Hughes. The film is scheduled to arrive on the streamer on March 6, 2026.

Ritchson plays a trainee named 81 who, during a grueling military boot camp, stumbles into a deadly threat from another world; the trailer features a giant alien robot. The article highlights similarities between 81 and Ritchson’s Reacher — both are keen observers, top of their class, and adaptable — while noting the new character is not a direct clone of Reacher.

The cast also includes Dennis Quaid, Esai Morales, Keiynan Lonsdale, and Stephan James; Jai Courtney is listed in the cast but does not appear in the trailer. The piece notes that this War Machine is unrelated to Netflix’s 2017 film of the same name and suggests the new movie could attract attention on the service given Ritchson’s involvement and the film’s war, action and sci‑fi elements.

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