Summary
Lanternsis more than a month into production, progressing smoothly and right on schedule. But the latest star to join the HBO series should hardly be surprising to anyone tracking the developments ofSupermanand James Gunn’s wider DC Universe.
HBO’sLanterns, based on DC’sGreen Lanternlore, will be the fifth project in James Gunn’s newly christened DC Universe, and the third TV show afterCreature CommandosandPeacemakerSeason 2.Lanternsstars Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan as a veteran member ofthe intergalactic force, Green Lantern Corps, and recruit John Stewart (played by Aaron Pierre) in what showrunners describe to be an Earth-based murder mystery “in the American heartland” of Nebraska.
Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner is Lanterns' Newest Addition
The Scale of His Involvement Remains A Mystery
Nathan Fillion’s sharp-tongued Guy Gardner (another Green Lantern who features in the upcomingSupermanmovie) was hitherto omitted from any mention in the HBO TV show. But, according toThe Hollywood Reporter, that mystery is now crystal clear: Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner will indeed be appearing inLanternsalthough the nature and scale of his involvement remains undisclosed.
Fillion joins a steadily growing cast who have joined the show in the past month, includingNicole Ari Parker as John Stewart’s mother, Bernadette; Jasmine Cephas as younger Bernadette; Jason Ritter as Billy Macon and Garret Dillahunt as Billy’s father. Following his addition, fans quickly opened their theory books on how Gardner fits into theLanternsstory. Some theories even suggest that he could be the murder victim that precipitated the whole investigation by Jordan and Stewart — possibly murdered by Ulrich Thomsen’s Sinestro. Fillion’s inclusion is also noteworthy for two reasons. First, Gardner’s quirky and eccentric persona — evident in the clips of theSupermantrailer — is an outlier in aLanternsshow expected to be dark and gritty. Second, it raises questions about the show’s place within the broader DCU, especially given showrunner Chris Mundy’s previous statements of the show not being a part of the DCU’s “larger storytelling plan” and that Season 1 was designed to be a self-contained and standalone story, devoid of any traces of universe-building.
Talk of universe interconnectivity is moot if the show’s story and tone don’t align with DC fans. And that’s the elephant in the room when it comes toLanterns. Filmmaker James Hawes, who directs the first two episodes, recently spurred the Green Lantern community with his comments toColliderabout the show not “needing that extra sprinkle of sci-fi fairy dust,” instead taking place in a more physical realm. The series' promised grounded tone, already visually confirmed by afirst-look image of the Lantern duo in casual dressing, doesn’t sit well with some fans. Any optimism ofLanternsbeing the same inter-galactic adventures akin to 2011’sGreen Lanternand theGuardians of the Galaxyfilms, seems to have been quashed by Hawes’ comments.
Lanterns’quality, though, is a different discourse. That Gunn, a lover of the intergalactic with hisGuardians of the Galaxyfilms, greenlit the show and called it a solid script should speak volumes to anyone concerned that less space fights in a Green Lantern project equates to sour quality.
Lanternshas not announced an official release window at the time of writing.
