Nathan Fillion Takes Center Stage in HBO's Lanterns
Nathan Fillion’s career just took a sharp turn into cosmic territory. Fresh off appearances in both James Gunn’s Superman and his mainstay role in The Rookie, Fillion is now headlining HBO’s hotly awaited series, Lanterns. He’s not just making a cameo—he’ll be suiting up as Guy Gardner, the fan-favorite Green Lantern with a brash attitude and his signature strawberry blonde bowl cut.
For plenty of fans, Guy Gardner is the wild card of the Green Lantern Corps—a hero as bold as he is polarizing, famous for doing things his own way. Fillion seems thrilled to bring this outsized personality to life; he’s gone on record describing the role as “very freeing,” and it’s easy to imagine him leaning all the way into Gardner’s over-the-top confidence. Growing out that infamous haircut? That’s just part of the fun. It’s a far cry from John Nolan, the steady, upstanding cop in The Rookie, and gives Fillion a chance to flex new creative muscles.
Production on Lanterns quietly rolled out in February 2025, marking the first time HBO takes a serious swing at the Green Lantern mythos after years of speculation. And the cast list reads like a who’s-who of prestige TV: Kyle Chandler jumps in as Hal Jordan—the most well-known Green Lantern in pop culture—while Aaron Pierre plays John Stewart, often praised for his grounded, no-nonsense attitude.
Grit, Mystery, and Deep DC Roots
But here’s where Lanterns sets itself apart from stodgy superhero formulas. The show isn’t just an alien adventure—at its core, it’s an Earth-bound whodunit. Think True Detective, but swap the detectives for space cops wielding power rings. Hal Jordan and John Stewart team up to probe a murder in the American heartland, tackling a mystery with huge consequences for both Earth and the wider Green Lantern Corps.
The creative team is stacked with talent: Chris Mundy, who shepherded Ozark into the Emmy spotlight, serves as showrunner. He’s joined by Damon Lindelof, the engine behind Watchmen’s acclaimed TV reboot, and Tom King, who’s penned some of the boldest experiments in DC comics storytelling. Together, they aim to honor Green Lantern history while making the story fresh and accessible.
The show’s standalone storyline means new viewers won’t need a crash course in space opera lore. But for those who’ve devoured every Green Lantern comic, the series promises plenty of Easter eggs and sly nods to the history of the Corps. Expect a dark, atmospheric mood with high stakes—and just enough superhero spectacle to remind you this is a DC property through and through.
So why all the excitement? Fillion’s leap from familiar TV territory to a lead in a big-budget DC production signals HBO’s commitment to crafting something bolder than the average comic book adaptation. And with the blend of Nathan Fillion’s charisma, a top-tier supporting cast, and a creative team willing to push the boundaries, Lanterns is shaping up to be the next must-watch for fans and newcomers alike.