Nathan Fillion's Green Lantern: A 'Jerk' in Gunn's Superman Film

James Gunn is set to introduce a fresh take on Superman, and with this new cinematic universe comes Nathan Fillion's portrayal of Green Lantern, specifically Guy Gardner. In a recent interview with TV Guide, Fillion shared insights into how his version of the character will stand out from previous iterations on both the big and small screens. He described Gardner as a character who isn't exactly the epitome of charm.

"He's a jerk!" Fillion exclaimed. "What's important to know is, you don't have to be good to be a Green Lantern; you just have to be fearless. So Guy Gardner is fearless, and he is not very good. He's not nice, which is very freeing as an actor because you just think to yourself, what is the most selfish, self-serving thing I can do in this moment? And that's the answer. That's what you do in that moment."

Fillion also highlighted Gardner's hubris, suggesting that overconfidence might be his true superpower. "I think if he has a superpower, it might be his overconfidence, in that he thinks he could take on Superman," the actor noted. "He can't!"

This new Superman film marks the beginning of a rebooted DC Cinematic Universe, with the first chapter titled "Gods and Monsters." Alongside this film, HBO is developing a series called "Lanterns," which will explore other members of the Green Lantern Corps, featuring Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart. The series is slated to premiere in 2026.

The upcoming Superman movie stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Milly Alcock as Supergirl, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. Written and directed by James Gunn, the film is scheduled to hit theaters on July 11, 2025.