The rumor mill surrounding the DC Universe’s upcoming Lanterns series continues to swirl, as two new actors have reportedly been considered for the role of Hal Jordan. Earlier this week, it was leaked online that Thanos himself, Josh Brolin, could be making the switch to join the DC Universe as Hal Jordan. Rumor has it Brolin was formally offered the role, so fans are waiting to hear if he accepts the part in the new series.
Jeff Sneider, the same scooper who revealed that Josh Brolin was offered the role, has reported that two more A-list names have joined the competition to become the next Green Lantern. According to the report, Brolin is still the first choice, but, should he turn down the role, Matthew McConaughey and Ewan McGregor are the studio’s second favorites. While he is usually a stalwart presence on social media, James Gunn has yet to comment on the rumored casting. Additionally, no representatives from Warner Bros. TV, DC Studios, or HBO have commented on any of the casting rumors thus far. While social media is currently witnessing a hotly contested debate about who should play Hal Jordan, it is important to remember that these are currently only rumors.
DC Studios Is Apparently Looking for an Older Hal Jordan
What’s most surprising about the potential lead actors for Lanterns is their age. In the comics, Hal Jordan is presumed to be in his early thirties (around the same age as Batman and Superman) before becoming a founding member of the Justice League. Of course, comics have the added benefit of drawing their characters at whatever age the artist wishes, which explains why Superman has patrolled the skies of Metropolis for over 80 years without aging a day.
Fans online are not doubting Brolin’s credentials as a performer; most shows would relish having an Oscar-nominated actor in the leading role. However, at 56 years old, a furious debate rages online about DC’s apparent desire for Lanterns to feature an older Hal Jordan. With Ewan McGregor (53) and Matthew McConaughey (54) now apparently in contention, it seemingly confirms that idea. Moreover, since Lanterns has been described as a True Detective-inspired crime mystery set in outer space, McConaughey also makes sense as a candidate for Hal Jordan.
While the 2011 Green Lantern movie starring Ryan Reynolds left casual audiences with a general idea of the iconic superhero, there is potential for so much more. The Green Lantern Corps is an intergalactic space force, with Hal Jordan simply being the Corps’ Earth representative (or at least one of them). Lanterns will also mark the live-action debut of John Stewart, a fan-favorite Green Lantern from the comics. Many fans are now expecting Hal Jordan to embody the older, grizzled veteran cop, who’s “getting too old for this sh*t,” with John Stewart being the rookie cop/Green Lantern on the beat. So far, the only confirmed actor playing a Green Lantern in the series is Nathan Fillion, who’ll first appear as Guy Gardner in James Gunn’s Superman.
Lanterns
is currently scheduled to release in 2025 as a HBO Original.