The Ryan Reynolds Green Lantern Return has finally happened—but not in the way fans might expect. HBO Max has brought Reynolds’ infamous version of Hal Jordan back through a hilarious new video connected to Lanterns.
Rather than bringing Reynolds back to the production, HBO Max found a clever way to place his Green Lantern alongside the new heroes played by Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre.
Ryan Reynolds Green Lantern Return Gets a New Twist
HBO’s Lanterns stars Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart. The series introduces a new generation of Green Lantern characters as part of the developing DC Universe.
However, the new promotional video gives fans a chance to see Reynolds’ Hal Jordan again.
Instead of filming new footage with Reynolds, HBO Max used editing to combine his previous Green Lantern footage with scenes featuring Chandler and Pierre. The result creates an unexpected crossover between the two versions of Hal Jordan.
How the Green Lantern Crossover Works?
The video begins with Chandler’s Hal Jordan looking toward the sky.
“What the f-ck is that?”
Moments later, Reynolds’ Green Lantern appears flying through the sky and striking poses in the infamous CGI suit from the 2011 movie.
The sequence then plays into John Stewart’s ability to create constructs with his ring. When Stewart conjures a bird, Chandler’s Hal appears confused by what he is seeing.
The editing makes the scene feel like a meeting between the old and new versions of Green Lantern, even though Reynolds never actually returned to the Lanterns set.
James Gunn Previously Asked Reynolds About Green Lantern
The crossover also connects to comments from James Gunn. After joining DC Studios, Gunn revealed that he jokingly asked Reynolds if he was ready to step back into the Green Lantern suit.
That conversation became even more relevant after Reynolds told Entertainment Tonight that he would love to make a cameo in Lanterns. The new video effectively delivers a version of that idea without requiring Reynolds to officially return to the DCU.
Reynolds Has Embraced His Green Lantern Past
Reynolds played Hal Jordan in the 2011 Green Lantern movie, which received harsh criticism and failed to perform as hoped at the box office. Warner Bros. originally intended the film to launch a larger DC franchise. However, those plans eventually collapsed.
Reynolds later turned his experience with the movie into comedy. His Deadpool films repeatedly referenced and mocked his time as Green Lantern, transforming the failed superhero movie into one of the actor’s most recognizable running jokes. That history makes this new crossover particularly fitting.
Why a Full Green Lantern Return Could Be Complicated?
Although fans may enjoy seeing Reynolds as Hal Jordan again, bringing him into the main DCU could create unnecessary complications. Kyle Chandler already plays Hal Jordan in Lanterns. As a result, introducing Reynolds as another version of the same character would require the DCU to explain how both versions fit together.
A multiverse explanation could solve that problem, but it may also distract from the story that Gunn and his team are building. Casting Reynolds as another DC character could create a different issue. His connection to Green Lantern is so strong that audiences would likely associate him with Hal Jordan, especially after years of Deadpool jokes.
The Edited Crossover Was the Perfect Choice
Because of those complications, the edited crossover may actually be the best way to connect Reynolds’ Green Lantern to Lanterns. Fans get to see the old Hal Jordan alongside the new characters without changing DCU continuity. At the same time, HBO Max can acknowledge the character’s unusual history while keeping the joke intact.
Most importantly, the video does not require Reynolds to officially return or disrupt the new Green Lantern storyline.
Ryan Reynolds Green Lantern Return Gives Fans a Fun Cameo
The Ryan Reynolds Green Lantern Return may not be the official comeback some fans imagined, but it delivers something arguably better: a self-aware crossover that embraces the character’s history.
Chandler’s Hal Jordan and Pierre’s John Stewart can continue establishing the new DCU’s Green Lantern mythology, while Reynolds’ version remains a fun reminder of the franchise’s past.
For now, the hilarious edited appearance gives fans a chance to enjoy Reynolds’ Green Lantern once again—without changing the future of the DCU.
Stay tuned for the latest updates on DCU’s upcoming projects, and subscribe to DC Updates’ YouTube channel.
Ambily S