It’s officially official: The new DC Universe has a new Green Lantern. After weeks of rumors and an extensive casting search, Aaron Pierre (Rebel Ridge) has landed the role of John Stewart in the upcoming Lanterns TV show. The news was first reported by Deadline. It was also later confirmed by DC Studios co-head James Gunn.
“Welcome to DC, Aaron Pierre. After a long and grueling series of auditions I am absolutely sure we’ve found an incredible John Stewart,” Gunn said on Twitter after the news broke. Gunn, known best as the director of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, is spearheading the DC reboot for Warner Bros. alongside producer Peter Safran. Lanterns is one of the major TV projects as part of the new DCU that will launch on both HBO and the Max streaming service.
The Green Lantern show first entered development back in 2019. It has gone through many different iterations since then. It was officially given the green light over the summer, with casting kicking off shortly thereafter. Kyle Chandler (Godzilla vs. Kong) is also on board to play Hal Jordan in the show. It will be a team-up series, with Hal Jordan serving as the seasoned veteran. John Stewart will be the newcomer.
Here is the synopsis for Lanterns.
“The series 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.”
For Pierre, this is a huge break. It’s also technically his second stint in a DC show, as he previously starred on Krypton. Gunn’s plan for the new DC Universe is for all of the shows and movies to occupy the same multiverse. So, even though this is a TV show for now, the actor could easily end up leading a movie down the line. Gunn’s Superman will be the first movie on the slate to hit theaters next summer. Aside from that, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, Swamp Thing, The Brave and the Bold, The Authority, The Batman Part II and Teen Titans are also in the works.
Other shows include Waller, Peacemaker season 2, Paradise Lost and the animated Creature Commandos, which launches in December. Given DC’s string of high-profile disappointments at the box office, including the recently released Joker: Folie a Deux, there is a lot riding on this initial DC Studios slate. No pressure.
Chris Mundy (True Detective: Night Country, Ozark) is on board as the showrunner and executive producer. Emmy–winner Damon Lindelof (Watchmen, The Leftovers) and Eisner Award winner Tom King (Mister Miracle, Supergirl) will co-write the new series with Mundy. Lindelof and King will also serve as executive producers.
Lanterns does not currently have a release date.
What do you think? Do you like the casting choice? Are you excited about the show? Join in on the conversation over on Facebook or Twitter!
