Ryan Reynolds' Hal Jordan was not exactly exciting, and the latest DC movies of all time.
The actor knows it, which is why Reynolds' more popular superhero franchise, the Deadpool movies, always cracks jokes at the DC film's expense. Green Lantern was such a failure that the DCEU did not even use any of the Green Lanterns from Earth. Thankfully, David Corenswet's Superman and another DC project show how Hal Jordan could be redeemed in live-action.
The Superman Trailer’s Use Of Green Lantern’s Powers Is Exactly What I Hoped To See
Multiple Green Lanterns Are Already Confirmed For The DCU
Hal Jordan will not appear in Gunn's Superman movie. However, an actor who has played him for a long time in animation, Nathan Fillion, will. The star gives life to another Green Lantern in Superman, the hot-headed Guy Gardner, and we have been able to see little bits of footage that show the hero using his powers in the DCU. While there is a shot of the standard beam of green light, a moment shows Guy barely flicking his wrist and sending a giant hand at enemies.
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Guy Gardner did not have to break a sweat at all to let out a powerful attack, which I love, as it shows that the DCU is going to finally make Green Lantern's powers not only creative in live-action, but also pack the kind of punch they should. Towards the end of the trailer, we can't really see Guy since the shot is focused on Superman and Lois Lane in their apartment, but the Green Lantern is seemingly containing a giant sun-looking monster by himself. The DCU's Green Lanterns are as powerful as I had hoped.
Ryan Reynolds’ Hal Jordan Was Lackluster In Multiple Ways
The Actor Had Better Luck As A Superhero With Marvel Than DC
I'm a Ryan Reynolds fan. Due to that, I was looking forward to what he would bring to Hal Jordan. Sadly, I don't think that the actor brought a comic book-accurate version of the most famous Green Lantern to life. While the film tried to make the character a little more serious than most roles the actor has had so far, his Hal Jordan was still far too comedic for how I believe the hero should be portrayed.
In fact, I feel like Reynolds' time as Deadpool has shown that he would have been perfect for the Green Lantern in James Gunn's Superman, Guy Gardner. Going back to Reynolds' version of Green Lantern, aside from the scene where he made a racing cart and track with his Green Lantern constructs, I felt like the film left a lot to be desired when it came to depicting the scope of Green Lantern's powers. However, with Guy summoning great energy with minimal effort and being creative about it, I have faith the DCU will fix that mistake.
Lanterns Can All-Around Fix Hal Jordan & I Couldn’t Be More Excited
The DCU Already Has Plans For The Most Famous Green Lantern
While Hal Jordan will not be the Green Lantern in Superman's Justice Gang, which appears to be the prototype version of the DCU's Justice League, the character has already been cast and will debut soon in the franchise. Friday Night Lights' Kyle Chandler will play Hal Jordan in Lanterns, the HBO series that is set to follow Hal as a veteran showing the ropes to new recruit John Stewart, played by Rebel Ridge's Aaron Pierre. The story seems solid, with the duo investigating an Earth-set mystery with a True Detective-like tone.
Confirmed Green Lantern For The DCU |
First DCU Appearence |
Actor |
|---|---|---|
Guy Gardner |
Superman |
Nathan Fillion |
Hal Jordan |
Lanterns |
Kyle Chandler |
John Stewart |
Lanterns |
Aaron Pierre |
That description has me excited, as it cements that we will have a more serious take on Hal Jordan that fits the character, unlike what Ryan Reynolds did with him in Green Lantern. Despite being set on Earth, we have already seen stunt videos of characters flying, and since the cast includes characters like Sinestro and Guy Gardner, I feel like Green Lantern's powers will be a huge part of the show. As such, DC can take cues from Superman and make Hal's powers exciting in live-action.
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Superman
- Release Date
- July 11, 2025
- Director
- James Gunn
- Writers
- James Gunn, Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster
- Producers
- Lars P. Winther, Peter Safran
- Franchise(s)
- DCU
Cast
Clark Kent / Superman / Kal-El
Rachel BrosnahanLois Lane
Nicholas HoultLex Luthor
Edi GathegiMichael Holt / Mister Terrific
Superman: This film follows Clark Kent, a cub reporter in Metropolis, as he navigates the complexities of his dual identity, struggling to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing while embracing his role as Superman.
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Green Lantern
3/10- Release Date
- June 16, 2011
- Director
- Martin Campbell
- Writers
- Michael Green, Greg Berlanti, Michael Goldenberg, Marc Guggenheim
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingRENTBUY -
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.
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