Aaron Pierre, the star of Mufasa: The Lion King who’s going to portray DC Comics heavy hitter John Stewart in HBO’s Lanterns series, says he still hasn’t seen the 2011 Ryan Reynolds-led live-action Green Lantern movie. But even better, he grew up on the Justice League cartoons from the early ’00s, including Justice League Unlimited. The man’s got taste.
“I haven’t seen that, no,” Pierre told Entertainment Weekly when asked about the Martin Campbell-directed Lantern pic. That film, which was heavily maligned and even became an ongoing joke by Reynolds himself, was Hollywood’s first incarnation of a solo live-action title. Lanterns will now be the second. Pierre does, however, say it’s “most definitely” on his to-watch list for research ahead of his debut as John Stewart.
On the other hand, “I think Justice League Unlimited might have been one of my first introductions to John Stewart,” the actor continues. The Justice League cartoon series first ran from 2001-2004 with a lineup of the titular superhero team that included John, one of the first Black heroes to prominently appear in DC Comics. The animated show was followed by Justice League Unlimited, the sequel series that ran from 2004-2006.
Aaron Pierre, Ryan Reynolds in ‘Green Lantern’. Charley Gallay/Getty; Warner Bros. Pictures/courtesy Everett
“I think it’s just so exciting,” Pierre says of HBO’s Lanterns. He praises DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran, executive producer–comic creator Tom King, showrunner–series writer Chris Mundy, and EP Damon Lindelof, saying, “We can’t wait to get to work.”
The story of Lanterns follows John Stewart as a new recruit to the Green Lantern Corps., an intergalactic policing organization dedicated to protecting the cosmos. Each Lantern is equipped with a power ring that can create anything through the use of willpower, from armor to weapons to energy blasts to constructs. John teams with Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler), considered a legend in the Corps., to investigate a murder in the American heartland. It’ll be part of a mystery that has larger implications for the over-arching DCU plans across movies and shows.
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The team behind the series seem determined to deliver a proper live-action Green Lanterns story, which they liken to True Detective but with space cops. Gunn himself recently joked that Reynolds “doesn’t give a shit” when it was brought up on a podcast that we haven’t seen a good live-action version.
The cast of characters from ‘Justice League Unlimited’. DC Entertainment
“One of the first people I talked to after I got the job [at DC] was Ryan Reynolds,” Gunn said. “I was like, ‘You coming back?!’ He’s like, ‘Get the f— out of here.'”
Pierre describes the casting process for John Stewart as “a beautiful experience,” but notes, because he’s “an introvert” and “somewhat of a recluse,” he wasn’t “too aware” of the press publishing updates of the casting in real time.
“I was just locked into giving the very best version that I could of this beautiful character in the rigorous audition process,” he says. “I’m a firm believer that what’s meant for you won’t miss you. So, I gave my best and then set it free. Now I’ve been gifted the opportunity to bring this beautiful character to life and, hopefully, I serve John Stewart. Hopefully, I serve the Green Lantern Corps. We’re just really excited for the people to see what we put together here.”
Lanterns doesn’t have an official release date, but will premiere after the animated Creature Commandos (currently airing on HBO and Max), Superman (set to hit theaters July 11, 2025), and Peacemaker season 2 (filming wrapped in late November).
