HBO’s Cancelled Green Lantern Show “Gutted” Star As James Gunn Developed His Own DC Replacement

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Although the Lanterns series is set to premiere in 2026, DC fans were nearly given a different live-action Green Lantern show beforehand.

Jeremy Irvine, who was cast as Alan Scott in the now-cancelled HBO Max series Green Lantern, recently shared his disappointment with The Direct. He admitted he was “really heartbroken” when the show was scrapped, saying he was so upset he actually slept on the floor that night. Irvine joked that getting a project cancelled is just part of being an actor, explaining it feels like “one kick in the nuts every year.”

He explained that developing a particular idea was challenging, saying, “I really had some good ideas for it, I thought.” Irvine, who was cast as Alan Scott on May 25, 2021, also mentioned that he hopes to use those ideas in a future project, stating, “But you know, there’ll be something else where we get to incorporate it.”

Ultimately, he thought it was a wonderful story, praising both the writing and the scripts. He expressed hope that the project would eventually come to fruition and that whoever worked on it would enjoy the experience. Irvine was the second actor to join the project, following Finn Wittrock’s casting as Guy Gardner.

When asked about what to expect from the series, Irvine explained that he had signed more non-disclosure agreements for it than any other project. He jokingly said he didn’t want to risk legal trouble with James Gunn, as he hopes to collaborate with him again in the future.

Before James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios, a Green Lantern series created by Greg Berlanti was planned for HBO Max. It was originally ordered for ten episodes and intended to follow several Green Lanterns. In addition to Alan Scott and Guy Gardner, the show would have included Simon Baz, Jessica Cruz, Kilowog, Sinestro, and a new character named Bree Jarta.

During the 2020 TCA press tour, Sarah Aubrey, head of original content for HBO Max, announced that the Green Lantern series produced by Berlanti Productions would cover multiple decades and feature the stories of two Green Lanterns on Earth. However, after facing several setbacks, the show was revised in October 2022 to center only on the character John Stewart, following the departure of showrunner Seth Grahame-Smith.

Ultimately, the Lanterns TV show from DC Studios moved forward instead of the series originally planned by Berlanti. Starring Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart, the show will premiere on HBO in late summer.

Lanterns has yet to get an official premiere date from HBO.

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2026-01-01 22:08