The DCU’s Next Lead Superhero Actor Was Almost in Marvel Studios’ Most Disastrous Movie

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DC Studios seems to have avoided a pitfall similar to one Marvel Studios is currently facing. For years, Marvel and DC have been the dominant forces in superhero films, constantly compared by fans. While Marvel’s Cinematic Universe has generally been more successful, it’s had its share of projects that didn’t quite work out, like Inhumans and the stalled Blade movie. Now, Marvel is getting a lot of criticism, while DC is starting fresh with a promising reboot led by James Gunn.

The DC Universe’s next project will be Lanterns, an eight-part HBO series set to debut in early 2026. Taking inspiration from True Detective, the show will star Kyle Chandler, age 60, as the experienced space lawman Hal Jordan. However, the central character will be newcomer John Stewart, portrayed by Aaron Pierre.

Following the releases of Superman and Peacemaker Season 2 (starring David Corenswet and John Cena, respectively), Lanterns is planned to be the third live-action project in the new DC Universe. DC Studios launched this new era with Creature Commandos, an animated series for mature audiences featuring a team led by Frank Grillo, Alan Tudyk, David Harbor, Indira Varma, and others.

I was so impressed with this actor’s breakout year! He really grabbed my attention in 2024 when he led Rebel Ridge on Netflix – it even won an Emmy, and he was fantastic as a former Marine taking on a corrupt system. And then, just when I thought it couldn’t get better, he voiced young Mufasa in Disney’s The Lion King prequel, which was a massive hit, earning over $700 million worldwide! It’s been amazing to watch his career take off.

Before landing the role in Rebel Ridge that launched his career, Pierre was already set to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2022 with a significant part in the movie Blade.

The upcoming vampire movie starring Mahershali Ali has faced more difficulties than any other Marvel Studios project. First announced at Comic-Con in 2019, it still hasn’t begun filming, and has been removed from Disney’s schedule after several delays.

The upcoming Blade movie has faced significant changes behind the scenes. It’s gone through two director changes – first with Bassam Tariq, then Yann Demange – and at least six different writers have worked on the script. These writers have credits on popular projects like The Bear, X-Men ’97, True Detective, Black Widow, and Blade Runner 2049. As a result of these changes, the film’s concept has shifted from a historical horror story to a more contemporary setting.

By March 2024, Pierre confirmed he was no longer involved with the Blade movie, as the script and creative team changed direction. He isn’t the only significant actor to leave the project, which has faced several difficulties at Marvel Studios. It’s currently unknown what role the Lanterns star was considered for – whether it was a brand-new character or an existing Marvel hero.

It’s unclear if the Blade movie will actually happen. Reports suggest development was temporarily stopped. Even if Marvel Studios moves forward with the film, it will likely be very different from the original vision that director Bassam Tariq was involved with, as he worked on earlier versions set in a different time period.

Despite rumors, Pierre didn’t start his superhero career with Blade or Lanterns. He actually first appeared on screen as a military commander loyal to Zod in the Syfy series Krypton, a Superman prequel, between 2018 and 2019.

Over the next few years, Pierre will be appearing in both the DC Universe as John Stewart and the Star Wars universe in Star Wars: Starfighter. He’s also been cast in Shawn Levy’s Deadpool & Wolverine (coming out in 2027), and told Esquire he’s fully aware of how big the Deadpool franchise is.

Shawn Levy is fantastic – he’s incredibly passionate and truly cares about this project, as does the entire team. We’re working hard to deliver the best possible movie for both longtime fans and new viewers. We know how important this is to people, and we’re really thrilled about it.

If Pierre had found success at Marvel Studios, alongside his work with Lucasfilm and DC Studios, he would have become one of the rare actors to appear in all three of the biggest names in pop culture.

Why Losing Marvel’s Blade Was a Huge Win for Aaron Pierre

It’s unlikely Aaron Pierre’s part in the Blade movie would have gone beyond a single appearance, considering he wasn’t a major star at the time. Leaving that project actually worked out well for him, as it allowed him to become an important character – John Stewart – in the DC Universe.

Pierre is now the star of Lanterns, a significant new series for HBO that could run for several seasons. This role also positions him to become one of the original members of the new Justice League, alongside David Corenswet as Superman, and the actors playing the next versions of Batman and Wonder Woman.

DC Studios appears to be planning a significant role for Green Lantern in its new DC Universe. James Gunn has hinted at the character’s return in Man of Tomorrow, the upcoming Superman sequel, scheduled for release on July 9, 2027.

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2025-10-25 01:08