Nathan Fillion's loudmouthed Green Lantern is about to get a whole new playground. The actor, who first suited up as Guy Gardner in last summer's Superman, is set to bring the character into the animated realm for DC's upcoming Mister Miracle series. The news comes straight from Tom King, the comic book writer behind both Lanterns and the new animated show.
Fillion's Gardner has been a scene-stealer since his debut, leading the so-called Justice Gang in Superman under the corporate thumb of Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn). Despite his abrasive attitude, he showed a glimmer of heroism by aiding the Man of Steel at a crucial moment. He later popped up alongside Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) in the second season of Peacemaker. Next up, he's slated to join fellow ring-slingers Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) in HBO's Lanterns, which premieres this weekend. And he'll return to the big screen in next summer's Man of Tomorrow.
But before all that, Gardner will make his animated debut in Mister Miracle. King shared the exciting news with Entertainment Weekly, expressing his delight at having Fillion on board. "We brought Nathan into Mister Miracle's show, and doing that, it's just so wonderful. He brings that energy to every aspect of it," King said. "And you would think it would be different tonally from [Lanterns], but it blends because that's who Guy is. He's that guy who is over the top. We all know that guy who's a little bit like that."
This move is part of DC's broader strategy under James Gunn, where actors are expected to voice their live-action characters in animated projects too. The precedent was set with Creature Commandos, which saw Frank Grillo (Rick Flag), Viola Davis (Amanda Waller), and Steve Agee (John Economos) reprise their roles. Fillion's crossover is a natural fit, given his history with voice work in shows like Castle and various animated DC films.
What Is 'Mister Miracle' About?
For the uninitiated, Mister Miracle—aka Scott Free—is a classic Jack Kirby creation from 1971. He's the son of Highfather, ruler of the peaceful planet New Genesis, but was traded to the villainous Darkseid as part of a peace deal. Raised by the cruel Granny Goodness, Scott rebelled and became a master escape artist, eventually teaming up with the fierce Big Barda. King and artist Mitch Gerads reimagined the character in a critically acclaimed 12-issue series in 2017, which will serve as the basis for the animated show.
While no other voice cast members have been announced yet, the inclusion of Fillion's Gardner suggests a fun, chaotic energy that could play off Scott's more stoic demeanor. Fans of the comics will remember that Gardner and Mister Miracle have crossed paths before, often with comedic results.
As DC continues to expand its interconnected universe, this animated series is another exciting piece of the puzzle. For more on the upcoming Lanterns series, check out our preview of the grounded take. And if you're curious about other animated adaptations, we've got news on a Dragon Ball return that might interest you.
Mister Miracle is currently in development. Stay tuned for more updates as they come.
