Nathan Fillion dives into chaos in James Gunn’s DCU. Following a brief debut as Guy Gardner in Superman (2025), he now returns in Lanterns. This time, however, he’s letting loose like never before in HBO Max’s upcoming Green Lantern series.
Nathan Fillion on Playing the Unlikable Guy Gardner
At SDCC 2025, during a conversation with Collider’s Steve Weintraub, Nathan Fillion openly discussed the dramatic shift from his usual heroic roles to something far more outrageous.
“I dropped more F-bombs than I have, I think, in my entire career put together in one scene of Lanterns.”
Moreover, playing Guy Gardner allowed Fillion to explore a side of acting that’s rarely been seen in his past work.
“Usually, I’m the hero kind of guy. It’s very freeing to play that kind of stuff… these more unlikable roles.”
He also poked fun at Gardner’s abrasive personality:
“I think everybody hates Guy Gardner pretty consistently. He’s unlikable and he doesn’t mind… He’s brain damaged, you know?”
What Makes Nathan Fillion’s Lanterns Different
All in all, Lanterns is shaping up to be a unique blend of noir-style investigation and sci-fi mystery. Notably, it’s often touted as “True Detective meets cosmic mystery.” Moreover, the series is helmed by Chris Mundy (Ozark, True Detective) and, significantly, marks the first live-action DCU series under James Gunn’s new direction.
The ensemble cast includes:
- Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan
- Aaron Pierre as John Stewart
- Ulrich Thomsen as Sinestro
- Kelly Macdonald as Kerry
- Garret Dillahunt as William Macon
- Poorna Jagannathan (role undisclosed)
Furthermore, Director James Hawes described the series’ tone, saying:
“It looks and feels rooted… There is wit and comedy to it that you would not expect in True Detective. It’s a buddy cop structure with time travel that is really sophisticated.”
Filming Status and Release Plans
Meanwhile, actor Jason Ritter confirmed that the team has already filmed four episodes and is now moving into production on episodes three and four.
“We’ve shot 4 episodes so far, and we’re about to start shooting episodes 3 & 4… It’s been so fun & it’s a really well-written, really fun show.”
At this point, the show is already over halfway through production, and HBO Max has officially slated the premiere for 2026. Before that, Nathan Fillion will reprise his role as Guy Gardner in Peacemaker Season 2 — further continuing his presence in this evolving DCU.
With foul-mouthed scenes, cosmic mysteries, and a grounded yet comedic tone, Lanterns is proving to be a bold departure for Nathan Fillion. His portrayal of Guy Gardner brings a new level of grit, attitude, and unexpected humor to the DC Universe. As anticipation builds, fans can’t wait to see what chaos he brings next.
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Patrick Webb