Every Actor Confirmed for the DCU’s Upcoming Lanterns

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Following the strong performance of Superman, Creature Commandos, and Season 2 of Peacemaker, the upcoming Green Lantern series aims to keep the DC Universe on a winning path. James Gunn is building this cinematic universe to compete with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the HBO Max series, set to launch in 2026, will introduce the Green Lantern Corps and set up future stories within the DCU.

Despite the lack of a trailer, details about the upcoming DCU show, Lanterns, remain scarce – we still don’t know much about the story or when it will premiere. However, many of the actors and their characters have been announced, giving fans some clues about what to expect. From exciting new heroes with potential for future appearances to terrifying villains, here’s a complete list of confirmed cast members for the first season of Lanterns.

Aaron Pierre Is the DCU’s John Stewart

Aaron Pierre joins the DC Universe as John Stewart in the upcoming series Lanterns. Stewart is positioned as the primary Green Lantern for the DCU going forward, and the first season of Lanterns will focus on his training with the experienced hero Hal Jordan. As the third Green Lantern from Earth introduced in the DCU, Stewart is also a likely candidate to join the Justice League in the future.

Many people likely recognize Pierre from a recent role. He also recently provided the voice for young Mufasa in Disney’s live-action prequel, Mufasa: The Lion King. Besides appearing in the upcoming film Lanterns, Pierre is expected to reprise his role in Man of Tomorrow in 2027, although DC Studios hasn’t officially confirmed it yet.

Kyle Chandler is the New Hal Jordan

Kyle Chandler will play Hal Jordan in the new DC Universe. This version of Green Lantern is an experienced hero who mentors John Stewart in the upcoming story, Lanterns. While it’s unknown how long Hal Jordan has been a Green Lantern, he’ll be portrayed as an older, established hero. Chandler is the second actor to take on the role in live-action, following Ryan Reynolds in the 2011 Green Lantern movie.

Kyle Chandler is famous for his role as Coach Taylor on the popular TV show Friday Night Lights. He’s also appeared in several successful movies, like Manchester by the Sea, Super 8, Argo, and Zero Dark Thirty. Interestingly, he’s been part of the King Kong story twice, appearing in both the 2005 version and the more recent Monsterverse films. Although Aaron Pierre is set to be the primary Green Lantern in the new DC Universe, many believe Kyle Chandler’s character, Hal Jordan, will still play a significant role in the franchise.

Kelly Macdonald Plays Sheriff Kerry

In the first season of Lanterns, Kelly Macdonald stars as Kerry, the sheriff of a close-knit town shaken by a puzzling murder. Kerry is dedicated to both her work and her family, and she unexpectedly becomes involved in an investigation led by the Green Lanterns. She appears to be a brand new character created specifically for the DC Universe, and details about her are currently scarce.

As a film buff, I’ve always been impressed by Kelly Macdonald. She’s built up such a fantastic career playing some truly memorable characters. I mean, who could forget her as Princess Merida in Brave? Or even Helena Ravenclaw in the Harry Potter films? She really made an impact in Trainspotting as Diane Coulston, and her performance in No Country for Old Men as Carla Jean Moss was incredible. She’s also done some amazing work on TV, especially in The Girl in the Cafe and Boardwalk Empire – she’s definitely racked up a lot of well-deserved awards for those roles.

Garrett Dillahunt Is William Macon

Garrett Dillahunt is joining the cast of Lanterns as William Macon, a new character in the DC Universe. Macon is a charming but secretive cowboy who will likely become a suspect when the Green Lanterns investigate a murder in a small town as part of the movie’s plot.

Michael Dillahunt began his career with smaller parts in critically acclaimed films like No Country for Old Men and 12 Years a Slave. He gained wider recognition through roles in the sitcom Raising Hope and the drama Fear the Walking Dead. More recently, he’s appeared in films such as Ambulance, Army of the Dead, and Blonde. With a growing list of credits, many fans anticipate Dillahunt will take on a significant role in the DC Universe.

Nathan Fillion Returns as Guy Gardner

The first season of Lanterns will feature Guy Gardner, a confident and sometimes arrogant Green Lantern from Earth. He’s part of Maxwell Lord’s Justice Gang, alongside heroes like Mister Terrific, Hawkgirl, and Metamorpho. Gardner originally appeared in Superman and had a brief appearance in the first episode of season two of Peacemaker. With his role in Lanterns, he’ll become the first character to appear in every live-action project within the DC Universe so far.

Nathan Fillion is a popular actor with memorable roles in shows like Firefly and Castle. He currently plays Officer John Nolan on The Rookie. He has a long-standing friendship with James Gunn, who has included him in all of his movies, such as the Guardians of the Galaxy series, The Suicide Squad, and Slither. Fillion has also provided the voice for Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) in several animated projects.

Ulrich Thomsen Is the DCU’s Sinestro

Okay, so I just heard some awesome news! Ulrich Thomsen is going to be playing Sinestro. Now, Mark Strong really nailed that role in the 2011 Green Lantern movie, but I’m super excited to see what Thomsen brings to it. For those who don’t know, Sinestro starts out as one of the good guys, a Green Lantern, but he gets disillusioned and lets his ambition and fear take over. In the comics, he eventually becomes a Yellow Lantern – basically, a villain – and I’m hoping they go that route in this new DCU series. It’ll be fantastic to see that transformation on screen!

Ulrich Thomsen began his acting career in Danish films, notably the 1998 dark comedy The Celebration. But he’s become widely recognized for playing Kai Proctor in the American action series Banshee. Now, he’s poised to become a major villain in the new DC Universe, facing off against the Green Lantern Corps. If the series continues beyond its first season, his character is expected to be a key part of the story for years to come.

Jason Ritter Plays Billy Macon

Jason Ritter will be joining the cast of Lanterns as Billy Macon. Billy is the son of William Macon (played by Garrett Dillahunt) and Sheriff Kerry (played by Kelly Macdonald), and he shares a close bond with his father. However, his father’s influence might be leading him towards trouble. Some fans speculate that Billy could turn out to be the season’s villain, but we’ll have to wait until Lanterns premieres in 2026 to find out.

Jason Ritter, the son of actors John Ritter and Nancy Morgan, is well-known for his role as Mark Cyr in the NBC series Parenthood. He recently appeared in the new Matlock revival as Julian Markston. Many also recognize his voice work as Dipper Pines in the popular animated show Gravity Falls and as Ryder in Frozen II.

Nicole Ari Parker Is Bernadette Stewart

Nicole Ari Parker will join the cast of HBO Max’s Lanterns as Bernadette Stewart, the mother of John Stewart, a central Green Lantern in the show. While her specific role is still unknown, viewers can anticipate seeing a lot of interaction between Parker and Aaron Pierre on screen.

Niecy Nash-Betts is famous for her roles in popular movies like Boogie Nights and Remember the Titans, and she’s won awards for her work on TV shows such as Soul Food and Empire. She recently appeared in the Sex and the City reboot, And Just Like That… While Nash-Betts plays the main role of Bernadette Stewart, Jasmin Cephas Jones from Hamilton has been cast to play a younger version of the character.

Paul Ben-Victor Is Antaan

Paul Ben-Victor is joining the cast of Lanterns as a new character named Antaan. Antaan is an alien who seeks revenge for something his race has suffered. While he seems likely to be a villain, it’s possible Antaan will be portrayed as a more complex, antiheroic figure.

Paul Ben-Victor is a character actor who often appears in supporting roles on popular TV shows. You might recognize him as Vondas from The Wire, but he’s also been in many other series like Entourage, The Lincoln Lawyer, The Chosen, and Goliath. More recently, he voiced the character Bulldozer in the animated series Creature Commandos.

Other Actors Who Will Appear in Lanterns

The first season of Lanterns is adding several new faces, including Poorna Jagannathan (from Never Have I Ever) as Zoe, a character described as being as strategic and calm as the powerful men surrounding her. Sherman Augustus and J. Alphonse Nicholson will play John Stewart Sr. at different ages. Chris Coy, known from The Walking Dead, will appear as Waylon Sanders, and Cary Christopher (Weapons) will play a character named Noah.

The first season of Lanterns will feature Paula Patton, known for Hitch, and acclaimed actress Laura Linney, a three-time Oscar nominee. While their roles are currently secret, they are expected to play significant parts in the show and the wider DC Universe.

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2025-10-31 06:39