Before 'Reacher,' Alan Ritchson Starred in the Greatest Sci-Fi Franchise of All Time

Published Nov 12, 2026, 11:03 PM EST

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Carolyn Jenkins is a voracious consumer of film and television. She graduated from Long Island University with an MFA in Screenwriting and Producing where she learned the art of character, plot, and structure. The best teacher is absorbing media and she spends her time reading about different worlds from teen angst to the universe of Stephen King.

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Prime Video’s adaptation of Lee Child’s Reacher delighted and awed everyone as soon as Alan Ritchson was cast. Finally, there would be a book-accurate take on the drifting military man fighting on the side of good. Tom Cruise’s divisive interpretation of Jack Reacher was entertaining but far from what book fans had expected. Ritchson proved that he had the stature and the skills to pull off this beloved character. Hints about his rise to the top cropped up earlier in his career in one of the best sci-fi franchises of all time, The Hunger Games.

Ritchson was lethal in the second movie, Catching Fire, as a Victor from a Career district named Gloss. Due to the Quarter Quell that rocks all of Panem, he and his sister, Cashmere, are reaped from the existing pool of tributes, along with Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson). Though his dialogue is minimal, Ritchson commands the screen in his role as one of the many victims of The Hunger Games. Gloss and his sister are sent back to the Games even though they seemed to beat the system. They are admittedly among some of the tributes who volunteer, but it doesn’t make their stories any less tragic.

The Careers Are Still a Piece in the Capitol’s Games in ‘The Hunger Games’

The Hunger Games has always been more than a YA romance with a love triangle. The franchise was unfairly lumped in with lesser dystopian series when it was the crowning jewel of the genre. Suzanne Collins’ work set itself apart in a story where the government uses children killing each other for entertainment. The message is even more subtle and harrowing when it comes to the Careers.

When Gloss is reaped, the Games lose all the luster for the Careers. In an interview with Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci), he emphasizes that he isn’t going by choice. This is the sentiment shared by all the tributes, but in some ways, it is even more tragic when it comes to the Careers. These are tributes from only a couple of districts who buy into the Capitol’s propaganda. They train at special academies to enter the Games and volunteer to bring pride to their district.

The Hunger Games first touches on the tragedy of this setup with the sad death of Cato (Alexander Ludwig), who at the last moment understands that he is just another piece in President Snow’s (Donald Sutherland) games. The same can be said for Gloss and Cashmere, the brother-sister duo who won their games back-to-back. Just like the rest of the Victors, they oppose their treatment from the Capitol, which has made it painfully obvious that there are no winners in a fascist regime.

The Careers are used to create the illusion that there is nothing wrong with Panem. These are people who volunteer to enter a gallant pageant, which is a reminder of what the country has lost. Many of them are brainwashed to believe that it is their duty to conform to the standards of the Capitol. Other Districts like 12 don’t fall prey to these illusions because they live in such excruciating poverty. Even so, Careers are victims of the Capitol just like everyone who isn’t President Snow. The Hunger Games is a thoughtful franchise that keeps gaining traction because of how relevant it remains to this day.

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  Katniss Everdeen

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  Josh Hutcherson

  Peeta Mellark

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem.