James Gunn's Green Lantern series wants Marvel and DC star Josh Brolin as Hal Jordan (report)

It may be Labor Day here in the States, but James Gunn and his rapidly expanding DC Universe aren't taking a single day off. While the new studio CEO is currently busy getting his Superman reboot to the finish line, Gunn and his DC Studios co-head Peter Safran are also busy multitasking as they continue to build out the franchise around their goldmine. One of the more high-profile projects in development is a new series called Lanterns, which was initially described as a nod to True Detective and will largely revolve around the (arguably) underrated character John Stewart. But true to the name, several other Green Lanterns will be vying for their share of screen time, not least Hal Jordan. According to a new report, we now have a better idea of ​​who is in line to play the fan-favorite superhero – and he's a very familiar face to both DC and Marvel fans.

As first reported by Nexus Point News and confirmed by scooper Jeff Sneider's latest newsletter (paywall) as well as /Film's own sources, Gunn and Safran have gone so far as to make a formal offer to Josh Brolin. The actor is certainly no stranger to the comic book sandbox. He's best known for his portrayal of the Mad Titan Thanos in “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame.” The “Dune” actor also played Cable in “Deadpool 2” and DC character Jonah Hex in the failed 2010 flop of the same name. (We humbly apologize to Brolin and his representatives for even bringing up this debacle again.) If this potential casting seems odd, though, there's a method behind it. Sneider hints that there will be a Riggs/Murtaugh dynamic between John Stewart and Hal Jordan.

You could say Josh Brolin is starting to collect comic book roles the way Thanos gobbled up Infinity Stones. To cool down this hot gossip a bit, it should be noted that Sneider's rumor is just that – a rumor. The prickly personality has a solid track record, to be fair, but it's always worth taking such early reports with a pinch of salt. That being said, much of Lanterns (which officially falls under the HBO umbrella and will air on the premium channel, followed by streaming availability on Max) has already materialized, and it seems logical that DC Studios would now turn its attention to casting.

No details have been announced on casting details other than Brolin's possible involvement. The role of John Stewart will obviously be a hot commodity for up-and-coming actors, who Sneider describes as a “20-year-old black guy” who embodies Hal Jordan's much older, gruffer personality — a tired cliche that stretches back to 1987's Lethal Weapon and beyond. We previously reported on Gunn's revelation that the series has already found its writers: Ozark writer Chris Mundy, longtime veteran Damon Lindelof (“Watchmen,” “Lost”) and DC Comics' Tom King, with Justin H. Britt-Gibson, Breannah Gibson and Vanessa Baden Kelly also rounding out the writing team. Gunn originally pitched the series as follows:

“[…] This is actually a terrestrial television series that's almost like True Detective, with a couple of Green Lanterns acting as space cops policing Earth precinct. In it, they discover a terrible secret that ties into our larger DCU story.”

Stay tuned for further updates as they arrive.