James Gunn made it clear from the outset that his DC Universe projects will tie together. Even his initial venture after taking over the studio, HBO Max's adult-oriented cartoon Creature Commandos, featured a crossover character that weaves in and out of the franchise, à la Nick Fury in the early MCU. Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr. debuted as an animated military leader before he played him in live-action in Superman, Peacemaker, and the upcoming Man of Tomorrow.
One title Grillo has not been linked to is Lanterns. The Green Lantern show will air on HBO this summer. Nathan Fillion is presumed to return as Guy Gardner, after his supporting turn in Gunn’s Superman, as well as a cameo in Peacemaker season 2. But despite glowing as the Justice Gang’s Lantern, Gardner is not a chief member of the Green Lantern Corps. That leaves seasoned veteran Hal Jordan and his protégé John Stewart to lead the Lanterns.
While John Stewart is a fan-favorite hero, especially from the Justice League animated run in the early years of the century, Lanterns will be this GL’s true live-action unveiling. Rising star Aaran Pierre has been appropriately cast to portray John Stewart in the series. Now, Pierre is also joining the cast of Man of Tomorrow.
Instead of explicitly defining Man of Tomorrow as a Superman sequel, James Gunn has stated that the feature film is a continuation of his “Superman saga." David Corenswet, Nicholas Hoult, and Rachel Brosnahan are set to reprise their parts as Superman, Lex Luthor, and Lois Lane, respectively. Corenswet is also expected to show up in some capacity in this summer’s Supergirl, a movie that has remained silent on the Green Lantern front thus far.
While casts from the movies are practically guaranteed to emerge in various sequels and spinoffs, will shows like Lanterns prove to have just as much narrative significance with character collaboration? The biggest DCU name to intersect between the film and television mediums is Nicholas Hoult. Viewers were shocked when Rick Flag Sr. visited Lex Luthor in prison in the sixth chapter of Peacemaker season 2.
Hoult showing up in Peacemaker was a complete surprise. Might Lanterns embed secret star power throughout its episodes as well? These are deviating promotional tactics, separate from larger casting announcements, such as Aaron Pierre’s GL joining up with Superman in Man of Tomorrow. Could the timing of this publicity, over a year before the movie is set to release, signify a more consequential connection?
The early press release of Pierre’s inclusion in Man of Tomorrow plays out a bit differently than Nathan Fillion’s involvement in Peacemaker. The latter had less narrative significance in a story with intermittent associations to the Superman blockbuster. Perhaps Pierre’s starring role in Lanterns, accompanied by this Man of Tomorrow news, suggests a deeper affiliation between the HBO show and the anticipated summer theatrical event.
DC fans can catch Lanterns on HBO beginning this August, while James Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow is scheduled to hit theaters on July 9, 2027.