With just a month to go before HBO Max's highly anticipated series Lanterns premieres, DC co-chair James Gunn is once again taking to social media to set the record straight. This time, he's addressing swirling rumors that Ryan Reynolds was originally tapped to reprise his role as Hal Jordan from the 2011 Green Lantern film.
The upcoming show stars Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre as Hal Jordan and John Stewart, two members of the Green Lantern Corps investigating a mysterious murder in Nebraska. But despite the casting being locked in, fans couldn't help but wonder if Reynolds—who famously played the character over a decade ago—was ever in the mix.
Gunn's Response to the Reynolds Rumor
On social media, a fan asked Gunn directly whether he had asked Reynolds to return as Hal Jordan for Lanterns. The DC boss responded by explaining that Reynolds' message to him was simply a congratulatory note for landing the DC gig, and that any talk of an offer was purely a joke. In other words, the Deadpool star was never seriously considered for a comeback.
For context, Reynolds played Hal Jordan in 2011's Green Lantern, a film that also featured Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, and Angela Bassett. That movie was a critical and commercial disappointment, earning just $237 million worldwide against a reported $200 million budget and receiving a 25% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics called it a "muddled mess" that failed to launch a franchise—a sentiment so strong that Deadpool 2 even included a post-credit scene where Deadpool kills Reynolds after reading the Green Lantern script.
What to Expect from 'Lanterns'
Lanterns is set to premiere on HBO Max on August 16, 2026, and promises a grounded, investigative tone that's a far cry from the 2011 film. With Chandler and Pierre leading the cast, the series aims to explore the cosmic side of the DC universe while keeping the story rooted in a murder mystery. Fans are eager to see how this new take on the Green Lantern mythos will unfold, especially under Gunn's guidance as part of the broader DC Studios slate.
While Reynolds' return was never in the cards, the buzz around Lanterns continues to build. For more on the evolving DC universe, check out our coverage of Silo Season 3's perfect Rotten Tomatoes score and The Rookie Season 9 filming update.
As Gunn continues to engage with fans online, it's clear that transparency is a priority for the new DC regime. Whether it's debunking casting rumors or sharing behind-the-scenes insights, the co-chair is keeping the conversation alive as the countdown to Lanterns begins.
