Few modern stars embody the classic action-hero mold quite like Alan Ritchson. After winning audiences with his towering presence and brute-force charisma in Reacher, the actor has steadily cemented himself as Hollywood’s next big action lead.

His physical commitment and relentless work ethic were on full display again while filming the upcoming War Machine. Alan Ritchson takes on "81," an Army Ranger hopeful in Netflix's new and while speaking to Netflix over on YouTube, revealed the process and thought behind the character.

"There is something about the spirit of ‘81’ that has captured me so much, that character, who just, like, inspired us to be the best version of ourselves," he opened up, revealing how the part hits home, despite it being the most taxing role he has done.

That fire matches the movie's setup, a soldier staring down an alien death bot mid-Ranger grind, something similar to Ritchson's Reacher grit where he packed on mass for raw showdowns. To match the quite literally breathtaking premise, boss Patrick Hughes went all-in on real stunts across Australia's Victoria outback and New Zealand's South Island.

The dangers hit maximum hazard while filming Class V rapids, where Ritchson plunged into wild waters, geared up, tied by a single line.

"Somehow, Hughes found the most dangerous grade five rapids in New Zealand," Ritchson shared, gearing for the dunk that pushed him harder than Reacher scraps.

While Ritchson's War Machine grind tests limits, the flick's plot amps up that survival vibe big time.

Rangers battle an alien menace in Netflix's high-stakes thriller

Netflix's War Machine unleashes a squad of Army Rangers, led by Alan Ritchson's battle-hardened "81," into a high-stakes survival thriller blending military grit with extraterrestrial terror. During the brutal final phase of Ranger selection, RASP, the team's routine training exercise in the remote wilds turns unimaginably lethal.

A massive, unstoppable alien robot ambushes them, shrugging off gunfire and laying waste with advanced weaponry. Fresh off a real-world Taliban raid that tested his resolve, 81 is joined by rallying survivors Jai Courtney's comrade, Dennis Quaid's grizzled commander, and Stephen James.

As the machine's global invasion threat emerges—its sole weakness buried in overheating vents—the Rangers exploit construction-site debris for a fiery overload takedown. Giving life to the fictional telling of a non-fictional Ranger selection, Ritchson's tales of dodging bricks and battling rapids in War Machine's grueling shoot spotlight a star pushing limits for raw thrills.

What do you think of Alan Ritchson's gruelling shooting for War Machine? Let us know in the comments.

Written by

Pratham Gurung

Edited by

Adiba Nizami