The DC Universe (DCU) is expanding. The studio has cast Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan, one of its three Green Lanterns, for the upcoming Lanterns series on HBO.
Chandler, best known for his role as Coach Taylor on Friday Night Lights, Gary Hobson on Early Edition, and seen in Bloodline, The Wolf of Wall Street and the Godzilla films, steps into the role previously portrayed by Ryan Reynolds in the 2011 Green Lantern movie. He joins Nathan Fillion, who will play Guy Gardner and is set to appear in the forthcoming Superman movie.
The Lanterns series is expected to have a True Detective feel, focusing on an older, seasoned Lantern (Chandler’s Hal Jordan) mentoring a younger upstart as they investigate a murder on Earth. This new approach will explore the space cop-turned-Earth detective dynamic, adding a unique flavor to the DCU.
The casting strategy for Lanterns aims to pair a well-established actor like Chandler with a lesser-known one for the role of John Stewart, one of DC’s first Black superheroes. It’s anticipated that John Stewart will play a pivotal role in the DCU moving forward, with speculation that he could be the “main” Green Lantern. Though Chandler’s Hal Jordan is a significant character, his lack of a movie deal outside the show has led to speculation about whether his character will survive beyond the series.
Aside from the 2011 film, Jordan has only been portrayed in animation. First, in 1967:
And then in 2011:
While there’s been no official word on who will play John Stewart, fans have suggested Aaron Pierre, who recently made waves with his performance in Netflix’s Rebel Ridge. Pierre’s physicality and charisma have led many to speculate that he’d be a natural fit for the role.
James Gunn, who is leading the new DCU, has a history of casting actors based on their standout performances, such as when he chose Milly Alcock for Supergirl after watching House of the Dragon.
Soon, we will hear Chandler recite the iconic lines, “In brightest day, in darkest night…“/
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The Geek is a working screenwriter, director and screenwriting instructor.
