LANTERNS: More Names Emerge As Contenders To Play Hal Jordan And We Have A Frontrunner If Josh Brolin Says No!

LANTERNS: More Names Emerge As Contenders To Play Hal Jordan And We Have A Frontrunner If Josh Brolin Says No!

As DC Studios closes in on the DCU's Hal Jordan, two more potential candidates have emerged, with one said to be the frontrunner if Josh Brolin (Avengers: Endgame) turns James Gunn down. Check it out...

By JoshWilding - Sep 04, 2024 06:09 AM EST
Filed Under: Lanterns

Earlier this week, we learned that Avengers: Infinity War and Deadpool 2 star Josh Brolin is being eyed for the role of Hal Jordan in HBO's Lanterns.

While we'd heard DC Studios wants an older actor to play the hero, the expectation had been that Hal would be in his early 40s at most; instead, the Green Lantern Corps member is clearly a veteran and will perhaps become the villainous Parallax sooner rather than later. 

Following the news about Brolin, we heard yesterday evening that Ewan McGregor (Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey) and Matthew McConaughey (Deadpool and Wolverine) are also in contention for the role and Nexus Point News has just shared another update. 

Apparently, Chris Pine (Wonder Woman 1984) and Timothy Olyphant (The Mandalorian) are also on DC Studios' shortlist for Hal, and while McConaughey is a contender, he's not the frontrunner if Brolin says no. 

Instead, it's Pine, the actor best known for Star Trek and playing the Wonder Woman franchise's Steve Trevor. 

For context, Brolin is 56, Pine is 44, McGregor is 53, Olyphant is 56, and McConaughey is 54. That's a big age difference between Pine and the other actors being eyed for the role, though how much it will potentially change Hal's portrayal on screen remains to be seen. 

There's been a lot of unhappiness on social media about Hal being in his 50s, with many fans arguing that it closes the door on him ever joining the Justice League. Nathan Fillion, who plays Guy Gardner in Superman, is 53 so it appears the plan is for him and Hal to be veterans and John Stewart a relative newcomer to the Corps (Kyle Rayner will surely soon follow). 

DC Studios' Lanterns follows new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.

Chris Mundy (True Detective: Night Country) is serving as showrunner and executive producer and will write Lanterns with Damon Lindelof (Watchmen) and comic book scribe Tom King (Supergirl). 

When Lanterns' creative team was first revealed, James Gunn and Peter Safran, as Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs of DC Studios, shared a joint statement which read, "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.'"

Lanterns doesn't currently have a confirmed premiere date.

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GoldenBoy02
GoldenBoy02 - 9/4/2024, 6:50 AM
Timothy Olyphant looks like a younger Josh Brolin :)
NonPlayerC
NonPlayerC - 9/4/2024, 11:53 AM
@GoldenBoy02 - is it just me or does anyone else want new faces in the comic book movie world. Aqua mans rumored gonna be lobo, Star lords rumored to join dc, iron man is doom, thanos as cable then Hal. I get it, it’s acting different roles, but it’s an actors job but I just find it distracting. There’s just plenty of actors out there.
On a constructive note I could see olyphant do an older Hal with his tired worn out charm and charisma to changing into a corrupted angry parallax. Still think they could find someone better less known but they’ll probably do that with John Stewart since they’ll probably slide him into the justice league movies I’m guessing. Go on an get a star to bring in casual viewers. This might be what I’m most excited for in this new dc slate
Gmoney84
Gmoney84 - 9/4/2024, 6:51 AM
Why so old? I’m with all the folks complaining.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 9/4/2024, 7:53 AM
@Gmoney84 - cause that's the story. Why not?
IAmAHoot
IAmAHoot - 9/4/2024, 8:39 AM
@Gmoney84 - By the time they get to the next live-action iteration, you'll be old enough to know why.
soberchimera
soberchimera - 9/4/2024, 9:21 AM
@Gmoney84 - Hollywood Hates Hal.
NonPlayerC
NonPlayerC - 9/4/2024, 11:41 AM
@soberchimera - this is not a dig (this time) and just my opinion but they need representation and green lantern corps is the best place for dc to do it. They’re gonna need John Stewart on the justice league like in the animated universe. Unless they want to race swap other prominant character (which I hate would rather they creat new or use lesser known) John Stewart is the best choice for JL. If he’s a green lantern that means Hal’s been one for a while if they do it right. While I’d rather they’d have showed progression and shown Hal as the badass he is(hopefully maybe they will show his heroic side well before he’s corrupted by parallax), the corps has so many good green lanterns. I used to hate Kyle raynor until I read some of his comics and listened to some audiobooks from graphic audio(which is great for anyone that’s got a long commute or drives a lot by the way, not doing comics as much these days but they have some good stuff). I grew up with John Stewart in the animated dc shows and always loved it. If they portray him like that he’ll have a good dynamic with the others. If they go the route of Hal as parealax and it does well, maybe further down we can have his redemption arc as specter
soberchimera
soberchimera - 9/4/2024, 11:51 AM
@NonPlayerC - The producers are under the misconception though that because Hal was a GL first he must be so much older than John which is completely untrue, Hal wasn’t even a mentor to John, the Guardians chose him and he always did things HIS way. I really don’t understand the perception that for John or Kyle to shine, Hal has to be killed/character assassinated/retired when they’ve all co-existed in the comics for decades and they face Galactic-level threats with thousands of other GLs
NonPlayerC
NonPlayerC - 9/4/2024, 12:08 PM
@soberchimera - no I get it, it would be cool for the hero’s to not fight each other right out the gate. I’m getting a little tired of that trope pretty quick. I think that was Snyder’s downfall with with essentially every movie. These are heroic character that should take quite a lot to them to change their morals and fight each other.
That said I could be wrong but I thought Hal did train John. If I remember right guy Gardner gets hurt and the elders on AO send the ring to John and Hal to go train him. Might be wrong though. The through the decades part yeah, but also got to remember how many reboots, retcons and all that have happened. Me and you could have read different runs giving us different perceptions of how each should be portrayed. Personally I prefer hal being the first and only green lantern of the earth sector for a good while cementing his legend status before guy, John, Kyle, bazz and whoever else they’ve added in come into play. Also hoping there’s at least a nod to Allan Scott having not been a true green lantern but having found a ring maybe with a cracked lantern or something as to why AO didn’t know about him. That might be too much though, in a perfect world.
NonPlayerC
NonPlayerC - 9/4/2024, 12:21 PM
@soberchimera - that and I don’t mind them going old, prefer old than baby faced. I still think the Star Wars episode 7-9 movies would have been so much better without all the new blood and just been about old ass Luke, Han, and leia (clearly would have been an issue rip) but that might be a whole other thing entirely
soberchimera
soberchimera - 9/4/2024, 1:11 PM
@NonPlayerC - Well Luke, Han, & Leia would’ve been old regardless given the actors have aged 30+ years. But a rebooted Hal should be mid-30s same as Superman and Batman in the DCU. Hal has never been portrayed as the wizened geezer in the Justice League. If they want an older GL mentor figure they should use Alan Scott.
NonPlayerC
NonPlayerC - 9/4/2024, 2:05 PM
@soberchimera - mmm this is the first argument that truly resonates with me. Now I think Superman should have been older. Yeah Hal should be around the same age as Barry and the rest. The Gunn dc universe will fail, another decade wasted, here’s to the reboot next decade, hopefully we’ll all be alive
GoldenBoy02
GoldenBoy02 - 9/4/2024, 6:56 AM
Maybe Brolin will play Parallax and Olyphant has to time-travel and prevent himself from destroying his city and become parallax?
NonPlayerC
NonPlayerC - 9/4/2024, 12:13 PM
@GoldenBoy02 - no more time travel and no more alternate universes unless they are doing a true crisis on infinite earths run or something. I feel the two aspects should only be used for the very end when the want to reboot to another universe and get new actors! Might just be me though
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 9/4/2024, 6:56 AM
User Comment Image

44-56 is a wide age range for a role but it’s clear if true that they are going for an older veteran Hal (makes sense since he’s said to be a Lantern legend).

Obviously Pine would be great but I think Olyphant could pull it off too!!.
IAmAHoot
IAmAHoot - 9/4/2024, 8:43 AM
@TheVisionary25 - I mean, it's just 10 years. Mid-40's to mid-50's isn't the biggest stretch for a role. I get if we're assuming a long term commitment for the actor it becomes a different story though, both literally and figuratively.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 9/4/2024, 9:05 AM
@IAmAHoot - well 12 but yes.

Still the original casting call we heard was someone in like 43-49 so to go from that to someone in their mid to late 50’s just seems a bit odd to me but you are right.
Clintthahamster
Clintthahamster - 9/4/2024, 6:57 AM
"with many fans arguing that it closes the door on him ever joining the Justice League."

This is actually a perfect example of why some folks will never be happy with comic book movies: they expect them to tell every story from the comics.

You've got actors signing on for, optimistically, 10 years of movies. That's not enough time, on the calendar or onscreen, to cover every beloved comic book story. Creators must (and should) craft the stories they want to tell with the time they have.
DrDReturns
DrDReturns - 9/4/2024, 12:49 PM
@clintthahamster - That's what Snyder was doing.

Not trying to start and argument. I have seen how Snyder's products are a point of contention.
I'm just saying I think that, in addition to studio interference, is why "BvS" dealt with Death and Return story elements.
He had so many great stories to work with and wanted to tell parts of them all.

Was it executed well? Well, that is a matter of opinion.
Clintthahamster
Clintthahamster - 9/4/2024, 1:18 PM
@DrDReturns - Not sure I fully understand what you're getting at, but I think we're mostly in agreement. Snyder's approach was overambitious and suffered for it, in my opinion. Gunn seems to be trying to buy some time by skipping all the "Secret Origins" stuff and starting at a point in time where superheroes have been around for a while, allowing them to tell some of the meatier, more interesting stories from the Bronze and Modern Age comics. We'll see how it pans out, but I'm optimistic.
DrDReturns
DrDReturns - 9/4/2024, 1:25 PM
@clintthahamster - "Snyder's approach was overambitious and suffered for it"

Agreed. On all points.
The1st
The1st - 9/4/2024, 1:43 PM
@clintthahamster - I feel like Snyder was following the greedy corporate mandate to skip world and character building and skip straight to the league, which was costly mistake. By the time Endgame happened we'd gotten Civil War, Black Panther, and all the films in between. We knew these characters and why and where we expected them to fit. Even Avengers had similar build up. JL had BvS as build up and that's it, and, depending on which version you watched, no real development for any other characters that were thrown in story wise with no real prior development. The cast in some cases also left much to be desired. Maybe if they'd gone Bezos Lex instead of Zuckerberg Lex things would have been different, but what we got was jarring nonetheless, even if it had its moments.
Clintthahamster
Clintthahamster - 9/4/2024, 2:15 PM
@The1st - "skip world and character building and skip straight to the league"

I feel like, to an extent, you can get away with this with Superman and Batman. They are so cooked into the zeitgeist that most folks will just subconsciously know "last son of Krypton, raised on a farm, went to the big city to work at a newspaper with Lois Lane" or "wealthy orphan plots revenge for parents' death, becomes a vigilante using his inherited wealth." But I agree that the rest of the team would have been better served with a little fleshing out before hand (especially Flash and Cyborg.)
elgaz
elgaz - 9/4/2024, 7:01 AM
Been watching Justified last few weeks (10 years late, I know) and Olyphant is excellent. He'd have my full support for it.
Clintthahamster
Clintthahamster - 9/4/2024, 8:32 AM
@elgaz - I've never watched Justified, but between Deadwood and Mandalorian, I have no doubt that he's up to the job.
elgaz
elgaz - 9/4/2024, 10:38 AM
@clintthahamster - you should give it a go. I'm just at end of Season 2. He's a modern day western gunslinger type.
The1st
The1st - 9/4/2024, 1:46 PM
@clintthahamster - Yeah, watching Swearingen basically speak 21st century English in a 19th century world spoke to just how ahead of the game he was.
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 9/4/2024, 7:16 AM
Olyphant wouldn't be bad at all, his Justified character definitely fit the cocky badass archetype.
FireandBlood
FireandBlood - 9/4/2024, 7:17 AM
Chris Pine, please
ItsNotForMeWahh
ItsNotForMeWahh - 9/4/2024, 7:34 AM
@FireandBlood - Has Pine done television since becoming a mainstream actor?

All of these are great actors but to my knowledge only a few have done television lately
FireandBlood
FireandBlood - 9/4/2024, 7:41 AM
@ItsNotForMeWahh - This isn’t television. It’s HBO 😉
ItsNotForMeWahh
ItsNotForMeWahh - 9/4/2024, 7:51 AM
@FireandBlood - User Comment Image
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 9/4/2024, 7:55 AM
@ItsNotForMeWahh - I'm still hoping for Tom Cruise, lol. The age range would allow for a Tom Cruise Hal Jordan, but then it's TV.

First time for everything I guess.
FireandBlood
FireandBlood - 9/4/2024, 7:56 AM
@ItsNotForMeWahh - Yeah, it actually is now. No longer a “Max” series but an actual HBO show, like Watchmen.
ItsNotForMeWahh
ItsNotForMeWahh - 9/4/2024, 7:57 AM
@ObserverIO - Tom Cruise walking on set to blend in with the tall actors

User Comment Image
ItsNotForMeWahh
ItsNotForMeWahh - 9/4/2024, 7:57 AM
@FireandBlood - Still consider that to be television, premium television, since I'm watching it at home
Clintthahamster
Clintthahamster - 9/4/2024, 8:34 AM
@ItsNotForMeWahh - He did I Am The Night for TNT five years ago, and was excellent.
ItsNotForMeWahh
ItsNotForMeWahh - 9/4/2024, 8:39 AM
@clintthahamster - Just looked it up! What an interesting premise, I'll check it out
The1st
The1st - 9/4/2024, 11:01 AM
@FireandBlood - Yeah, I didn't know that was an option. I'm not sure why they went straight to Brolin. It's like they were watching MIB the night before. Seriously though, if it's going for that True Detective vibe and Parallax is the final destination I could see why Brolin or McConaughey would be on that list. I want Brolin to keep doing what he's doing though. He's proven he can do villainy things and the voice is just enough Ironside for...

User Comment Image

Is it inspired after his Thanos turn? No. He could lock down both ends of the comic spectrum with this though.
Forthas
Forthas - 9/4/2024, 7:24 AM
Kind of surprised Glen Powell's name has not come up. While not my pick for Hal Jordan (I see him as Steve Trevor), he is the it guy right now.
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