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Following months of rumor and speculation, Deadline reports actor Kyle Chandler has been cast as Hal Jordan in Lanterns, the upcoming Green Lantern television series at HBO.
As the outlet reports, the new series set in James Gunn’s burgeoning DCU hails from executive producers Chris Mundy (Ozark), Damon Lindelof (Watchmen), and comic writer Tom King, and follows “recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan (Chandler), two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.” To fill in the blank there, the “search for an actor to play John Stewart is still ongoing.”
Perhaps someone at DC thought the Friday Night Lights catchphrase (“Clear eyes, bright hearts, can’t lose”) sounded similar to the Lantern Corps Oath (“In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight…) since the Early Edition star isn’t typically spoken of in the same breath as the company’s first choice, Josh Brolin, who passed on the role two weeks ago—nor Matthew McConaughey, nor Ewan McGregor—rumored to be second and third on the wish list. Fortunately, however, somewhere on that list (likely between Ron Livingston and Mark Duplass), our man Chandler made the grade and will be the latest live-action incarnation of Hal Jordan since Deadpool‘s Ryan Reynolds.
Don’t get too excited yet, though, fans of Godzilla: King of the Monsters and Peter Jackson’s King Kong, because Chandler is still only said to be “in negotiations.” That said, we think he looks the part. There’s also this interesting tidbit, tweeted by THR writer Borys Kit:
Interesting aspect to this: Chandler does not have a movie component to his deal, according to my sources. https://t.co/tBaQEjR51Q
— Borys Kit (@Borys_Kit) September 23, 2024
Draw your own conclusions there, but it seems if a Green Lantern does make the leap to the big screen, it won’t be the Hal Jordan version? According to THR: “Lanterns is described as having a gritty, True Detective vibe as it focuses on Jordan reluctantly mentoring a younger Lantern, John Stewart, who in DC publishing history was one of the company’s first Black superheroes. The story sees the two characters investigating an Earth-bound murder with larger implications. Sources say that DC and the producers are looking for a young, more fresh-faced actor for the role to play opposite an older and bigger name.”
You know what that means: time to turn your speculation now to the John Stewart casting! Share your ideas in the comments below.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
