14 Years Before James Gunn’s Superman, Nathan Fillion Quietly Became the Best Green Lantern Ever Y01

Nathan Fillion stole the show in James Gunn’s Superman, playing the brash and overconfident Guy Gardner, a member of the Green Lantern Corps. The actor frequently collaborates with Gunn, appearing in almost all of the director’s projects through the years. As such, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Fillion’s Green Lantern will play a major role in the DCU moving forward.More surprising than Fillion’s major role in the DCU is his decades-long connection to DC Comics. The actor has portrayed multiple DC characters throughout his career, including The Detachable Kid in The Suicide Squad, Steve Trevor in the 2009 Wonder Woman animated film, and more. However, fans may not realize that the actor perfected his Green Lantern abilities as a different member of the Corps long before starring in Superman.

Nathan Fillion Played Hal Jordan in the DC Animated Movie Universe

GL Rebirth #6 Cover featuring Hal Jordan at the center of the Earth Green Lanterns.

Long before donning Guy Gardner’s ring, Nathan Fillion voiced another member of the Green Lantern Corps. Fillion plays Hal Jordan in several animated DC projects, beginning with 2011’s Green Lantern: Emerald Knights. He later reprises the role in the DC Animated Movie Universe (DCAMU), a collection of twenty-five films that began in 2013 and finally came to an end in 2024. His final appearance as Hal Jordan comes in the 2019 film Reign of the Supermen, after which the character is voiced by Nolan North.

Playing one of the most powerful Green Lanterns in the DC Universe, Nathan Fillion honed his skills throughout his tenure in the DCAMU, unwittingly preparing for the role of Guy Gardner years in advance. Playing Hal Jordan helped the actor grow more familiar with the DC universe and Green Lantern lore. Today, Fillion is incredibly well-versed in the details of the Green Lantern Corps, demonstrating a terrific grasp of how the heroes work and what their main drive is. His grasp of the DC universe is on full display during the press tour for Superman, wherein he proved to be one of the film’s most knowledgeable cast members.

Nathan Fillion is still known for one of the best onscreen portrayals of Hal Jordan ever, playing the role for eight years before taking his final bow as the character in 2019. He just couldn’t keep away from the world of Green Lantern, however, as he returns to the Corps in live-action in James Gunn’s new DCU. While Guy Gardner likely won’t be as prominent a character as Hal Jordan or Jon Stewart in the franchise, he will always be made better by Nathan Fillion’s long-term connection to the Green Lanterns in other media.

John Stewart and Hal Jordan walking down the street in civilian cothes from Lanterns-1

Nathan Fillion is set to return as Guy Gardner in the upcoming Lanterns HBO Max series, which is set to premiere sometime in 2026. Lanterns will delve much more deeply into the backstory of the Green Lantern Corps, as well as the possible formation of other Lantern Corps. Gardner will be a crucial part of the show’s worldbuilding, as he is the first Green Lantern introduced in the DCU, providing a solid connection between Lanterns and the franchise’s other projects.

Fillion’s return in Lanterns means that he will also get the chance to share the screen with the DCU’s new Hal Jordan after portraying the character in animation for so many years. In the upcoming series, Hal Jordan will be played by Kyle Chandler. It seems the DCU will portray Jordan as an older, more seasoned Green Lantern, making him a mentor figure to the younger John Stewart.

Aaron Pierre plays John Stewart in Lanterns, seemingly setting the character up to be the primary Green Lantern moving forward. This completes the trio of Earth’s Green Lanterns in the DCU, with Gardner, Jordan, and Stewart all playing key roles in the franchise moving forward. Given his surly personality and lack of people skills, it seems likely that Gardner will be the odd one out of this trio, struggling to get along with his fellow Green Lanterns moving forward.

Nathan Fillion continues to make a name for himself in the world of DC adaptations. After playing Hal Jordan in the DC Animated Universe, he now gets to share the screen with his iconic character, this time as the unlikable yet still somehow lovable Guy Gardner.

Lanterns will premiere on HBO Max in 2026.

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Nathan Fillion Will Share the Screen With Hal Jordan in Lanterns