When James Gunn stepped into the spotlight to unveil the first slate of DC Universe (DCU) projects, the Lanterns series shone like a diamond in a goat’s rear end. Why? While every other Justice League member was given their moment in the sun, Hal Jordan got left out in the cold, never making a return to live action after the Ryan Reynolds film flopped.
After the 2011 Green Lantern misfire, Gunn decided it was high time for the character’s comeback. The good news? Casting for the Lanterns series is officially in full swing.
With DC Studios heavily investing in both their cinematic and TV universes in collaboration with Max, the Lanterns series will shine the spotlight on Hal Jordan and John Stewart. And here’s the kicker: the criteria for casting Hal Jordan reportedly calls for someone aged 43 to 49.
This has fans crossing their fingers and toes, hoping that former Superman, Henry Cavill, will don the green mantle.
HBO’s Lanterns is Key to James Gunn’s DC Universe?
Ever since James Gunn unveiled his plans for the Lanterns series, it’s been like waiting for a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow—lots of anticipation but no concrete updates.
But hold onto your capes, because the project is now officially greenlit by HBO and gaining steam.
Gunn, who’s been keeping busy as the head honcho at DC Studios, is practically bursting with excitement about this new venture, which he’s tackling alongside a stellar crew: Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King (see The Hollywood Reporter).
In a statement, Gunn didn’t hold back his enthusiasm, proclaiming that Hal Jordan and John Stewart are among DC’s most riveting characters. He teased that Lanterns will not only bring these iconic heroes to life but will also serve as a cornerstone for his grand vision of a unified DC Universe:
We’re thrilled to bring this seminal DC title to HBO with Chris, Damon, and Tom at the helm. John Stewart and Hal Jordan are two of DC’s most compelling characters, and Lanterns brings them to life in an original detective story that is a foundational part of the unified DCU we’re launching next summer with Superman.
With a creative team like that, one can only imagine the stellar tales they’ll spin. While the casting call hasn’t hit the streets just yet, fans are on tenterhooks, eagerly awaiting to see who will fill the shoes of these beloved characters.
Fans React to the Idea of Henry Cavill as Green Lantern
James Gunn and Peter Safran’s revamped DC Universe is about to kick off with a bang! The first stop on this exciting journey is the Creature Commandos series, set to debut this year. And while Superman is taking center stage in 2025, the Lanterns series is rumored to make its debut on Max in 2026, lighting up screens with green brilliance.
The casting buzz is still in the air, but Gunn has given fans a peek behind the curtain. On Instagram, he revealed that the show is assembling a “crack team of writers”, thanks to the talented trio of Chris Mundy, Tom King, and Damon Lindelof, who have penned a stellar pilot script and blueprint.
Nexus Point News has the inside scoop, saying that filming for the Lanterns series is slated to start in the first quarter of 2025. The search is on for a seasoned White actor aged 43 to 49 to play Hal Jordan and a younger Black actor, between 27 to 35, to step into the shoes of John Stewart.
And fans are buzzing with excitement over the possibility of seeing Henry Cavill light up the screen in a new way, proving that even if he’s done playing Superman, he might just find a new calling among the stars as Hal Jordan.
Let’s see some of the comments:
Simply put, while the actor’s days as the Man of Steel may be over, Gunn must consider the former for a different Justice League role—Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern. Could Gunn truly bring Cavill back into the DCU fold, not as the Metropolis marvel but as the cosmic crusader, Green Lantern?
In the meantime, Gunn is all hands on deck for Superman.
Superman is set to blast into theaters on July 11, 2025.
