It’s official: HBO Max is bringing the Green Lantern — or more accurately, Green Lanterns — into the DC Extended Universe with a series from Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim and Seth Grahame-Smith that will follow multiple Green Lantern characters as they traverse the galaxy. And according to The Hollywood Reporter, American Horror Story and Ratched alum Finn Wittrock has been tapped to play one of the show’s leads: Guy Gardner.
In the comics, Gardner is a loudmouthed and arrogant member of the Green Lantern Corps, a disagreeable but dedicated hero. Per THR, Wittrock’s portrayal of the character will be the portrait of patriotism and masculinity, though it sounds like he’ll be more likable than his comics counterpart.
And Gardner is just one of the Lanterns headlining HBO Max’s upcoming series. Though neither of them has been cast yet, it seems that Alan Scott and Bree Jarta — an original Green Lantern from the comics and a newly created character for the show, respectively — will also play significant roles in the story. According to the official synopsis, the plot will take place over multiple decades:
"Green Lantern reinvents the classic DC property through a story spanning decades and galaxies, beginning on Earth in 1941 with the very first Green Lantern, secretly gay FBI agent Alan Scott, and 1984, with cocky alpha male Guy Gardner and half-alien Bree Jarta. They’ll be joined by a multitude of other Lanterns — from comic book favorites to never-before-seen heroes."
Given that ambitious description, it appears HBO Max will attempt to connect several of the Green Lantern’s comics storylines into one sprawling narrative. If done well, it would prove a unique addition to DC’s television lineup and likely revive interest in a Green Lantern adaptation after the 2011 film starring Ryan Reynolds famously flopped.
There’s no word on when fans can expect the upcoming series to arrive on the streamer, but further casting is currently underway. We’ll be waiting to see who else joins the Green Lantern Corps.
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