James Gunn responds to rumors about Green Arrow being cast for the Lanterns, which will finally give the Emerald Knights a proper chance in a cinematic superhero franchise. Set to focus on Hal Jordan and John Stewart, Lanterns will explore the famous Green Lanterns tackle "a dark, earth-based mystery," while investigating "a murder in the American heartland."
A fan recently asked Gunn on Threads "is it true that Garret Dillahunt will be playing Green Arrow in Lanterns next year due to him posting these photos on his Instagram story yesterday?," which sparked speculation that the new Lanterns TV show is potentially bringing in Oliver Queen. It didn't take long for the DC Studios co-CEO to set the record straight, as Gunn commented with the following:
The Lanterns series, which is set to premiere sometime in 2026 on HBO, is currently filming with Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre starring as Hal and John, respectively. While Dillahunt is attached to Lanterns, after being cast back in November 2024, he is playing a character named William Macon, who is described as "a self-righteous, conspiracy-minded man who masks his ruthless ambition behind a charming and calculated facade."
What James Gunn's Green Arrow Debunking Means For The DCU
While Dillahunt's mysterious story has been deleted since his initial posting, it's not a shock that some would think this was maybe a Green Arrow tease. Even though Dillahunt has already ed the Lanterns cast as a character with an attached name, it's not uncommon for superhero projects to cast players who have cover names before revealing who they actually are in a series or movie, if the writers are pulling from the comic canon. But given how Dillhunt's Lanterns character is described, none of it sounds even remotely like Green Arrow.
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However, it's understandable why some would think Green Arrow would potentially show up in Lanterns, as Hal and Oliver have a famous superhero friendship in the DC canon. Given that the DCU timeline is exploring a version of Hal who is already established as a superhero in this timeline, it would make sense why fans would speculate that Oliver was perhaps getting introduced through Lanterns as an old friend of Chandler's character. But as of right now, DCU fans should not expect to see the Green Arrow showing up in the Lanterns TV show.
Our Take On James Gunn's Green Arrow Debunking
As exciting as it would be to see Green Arrow in Lanterns, fans will have to wait a bit longer to see Oliver make his way into the DCU timeline. While it's possible that Hal could allude to his history with Oliver - assuming they have one in this continuity - through Lanterns, DC Studios may have other plans for Green Arrow and where his introduction will be, once they get to it. Hopefully, more official details on Lanterns season 1 will emerge as they continue filming the new DCU series.
Lanterns (DCU)
- Network
- HBO
- Directors
- James Hawes
- Writers
- Tom King, Chris Munday
- Franchise(s)
- DC Universe
Cast
Kyle ChandlerHal Jordan
Aaron PierreJohn Stewart
In this series set within the DC Universe, Lanterns follows intergalactic law enforcement officers as they wield power rings to maintain order across different planets. The show explores their personal and professional challenges while addressing broader themes of justice and responsibility in the cosmos.
- Creator(s)
- Tom King, Chris Munday
- Main Genre
- Action
- Producers
- James Gunn
- Seasons
- 1
- Streaming Service(s)
- MAX
DC Movie Releases
Source: James Gunn/Threads
