Nathan Fillion will reprise his role as Guy Gardner in HBO’s upcoming Lanterns series, following his debut as the brash Green Lantern in James Gunn’s Superman, which soars into theatres on 10 July 2025. Known for his fearless yet abrasive personality, the character is poised to bring a unique dynamic to the show, centring on two intergalactic cops investigating a murder in the American heartland.
Fillion describes Gardner as “a jerk” who doesn’t need to be good to wield a Green Lantern ring—just fearless. Speaking to TV Guide, Fillion said, “Guy Gardner is fearless, and he is not very good. He’s not nice, which is very freeing as an actor because you just think to yourself, what is the most selfish, self-serving thing I can do in this moment? And that’s the answer.”
He even joked about Gardner’s overconfidence: “I think if he has a superpower, it might be his overconfidence, in that he thinks he could take on Superman. He can’t!”
Gardner’s signature look—a severe bowl cut—has already sparked conversation among fans after its reveal in the Superman trailer. While divisive, it stays true to the character’s comic book roots and sets him apart visually from other DC heroes.
The series pairs Aaron Pierre’s rookie Lantern John Stewart with Kyle Chandler’s veteran Hal Jordan as they unravel a sinister mystery on Earth. Described as True Detective-style drama set in the DC Universe, Lanterns promises a grounded and dark tone that expands the franchise beyond cosmic battles. The show also features Ulrich Thomsen as Sinestro, Kelly Macdonald as Sheriff Kerry, Garret Dillahunt as conspiracy-minded cowboy William Macon, and Poorna Jagannathan as Zoe, a cunning figure navigating powerful men.
James Gunn and Peter Safran have positioned Lanterns as a cornerstone of their revamped DC Universe slate. Gunn teased that “a few other Lanterns” would appear alongside Stewart and Jordan, with Gardner now confirmed as one of them. The showrunner Chris Mundy (of Ozark fame) co-wrote the pilot with Damon Lindelof (Watchmen) and Tom King (DC Comics).
With Fillion’s Guy Gardner adding complexity and tension to the Lantern Corps dynamic, fans can expect plenty of drama — and likely some comic relief — when the series premieres in 2026.
Everything changed when his parents bought him a PlayStation 2 for Christmas. Since then, he’s been hooked on all things esports, video games, and music. If he’s not livestreaming his shenanigans, he’s probably out taking mirror-selfies with his friends, vigorously debating over the Internet’s Meme of the Year.
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