The upcoming HBOGreen Lanternshow is narrowing down the options to play series lead John Stewart, and it may have just found its frontunner.Lanternsalready castKyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights) as co-lead Hal Jordan,but the future of Green Lantern in the DCU will be whoever ends up playing John Stewart. Suffice it to say that it’s imperative the long-awaited project finds the right person to play the fan-favorite superhero, and it seems to be on the right track to do so.
According to industry insiderJeff Sneider,If Beale Street Could TalkstarStephan James is the current frontrunner to play John Stewart in HBO’sLanterns. It waspreviously reportedthat Stephan James was in the running alongsideRebel Ridgebreakout star Aaron Pierre, but it now seems James is ahead in the Green Lantern race. Sneider adds that he heardLanternsexecutive producers Chris Mundy (Ozark), Damon Lindelof (Watchmen,Lost), Tom King, and DC Studios co-chief James Gunn are all-in on adding Stephan James to the main cast.
While some may be disappointed to hear that Pierre, who just blew everyone’s socks off in Netflix’s action-thrillerRebel Ridge, will likely not be inLanterns, his competition was steep. In addition toIf Beale Street Could Talk, James has a number of acclaimed performances under his belt,including playing Jesse Owens in the 2016 sports biopicRace. He also earned an Emmy nomination for Quibi’s #Freerayshawnand was prominently featured in the Emmy-nominated TV seriesHomecoming. Up next, James is set to appear in Netflix’sThe Piano Lesson, starring Samuel L. Jackson and John David Washington.
The Lanterns Show Cast & Crew
If Stephan James earns the role of John Stewart inLanterns, he will be joining a top-notch cast and crew on theHBO series.Ozark’sChris Mundy serves as showrunner and co-writer on the Green Lantern project, whileDamon Lindelof, who returns to the superhero genre after the incredibleWatchmenseries, will be an executive producer and also lend a hand with the scripts. Tom King is making the jump from writing acclaimed comics such asStrange AdventuresandBatmanto help pen the upcoming DCU series. Meanwhile,according to THR,James Hawses has officially been hired to direct the first two episodes ofLanterns, soon after impressing audiences withSlow HorsesandThe Alienist.
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Of course, James would also be joined by his co-lead and fellow space cop Hal Jordan, played by Kyle Chandler. After a whirlwind of rumors surrounding the coveted role, includingJosh Brolin being officially offered it, theFriday Night Lightsstar is set as the iconic superhero. For those wondering why a middle-aged actor was cast as Hal, and a much younger one is eyed for John Stewart,it’s becauseLanternswill introduce the latter as the main Green Lantern in the DCU moving forward. In this universe, Hal is a veteran hero who is closer than retirement than his young and spry rookie partner in John. Notably inspired byTrue Detective, the official logline forLanternsis as follows:
“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.”
