Aaron Pierre Cast as John Stewart in HBO’s Green Lantern Series ‘Lanterns’
Aaron Pierre, best known for his standout performance in Netflix’s Rebel Ridge, has been cast as John Stewart in HBO’s highly anticipated series Lanterns, based on DC Comics’ Green Lantern. Pierre will star alongside Kyle Chandler, beating out Stephan James for the role after a competitive audition process. This marks Pierre’s return to the DC Universe, having previously played Dev-Em in Syfy’s Krypton series.
Pierre’s casting comes after screen tests opposite Chandler, ultimately leading to him landing the iconic role. Pierre’s resume is impressive, including his recent portrayal of Malcolm X in Nat Geo’s Genius: MLK/X and his upcoming voice role as the young Mufasa in Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King, set to release this winter.
The Lanterns series is shaping up to be a major addition to the DC Universe. Co-created by Chris Mundy (Ozark), Damon Lindelof (Watchmen), and comic book writer Tom King, the series will follow the characters John Stewart, a newly recruited Green Lantern, and the legendary Hal Jordan. The duo will be tasked with investigating a mysterious and sinister event unfolding in the heartland of America.
The show will span eight episodes and is produced by HBO, in collaboration with Warner Bros. Television and DC Studios, with Mundy serving as showrunner. According to DC Studios co-chairmen James Gunn and Peter Safran, “Lanterns” is a foundational part of the unified DC Universe (DCU) that will launch next summer with Superman.
The significance of casting John Stewart cannot be understated, as he is one of the first Black superheroes to play a prominent role in mainstream comics. His introduction in Green Lantern #87 in 1971 was groundbreaking, coming at a time when diversity in comics was rare. Stewart’s character has since become a cultural touchstone, symbolizing progress and representation in the superhero genre.
With Lanterns set to premiere soon, fans of DC are eagerly awaiting this exciting new chapter in the Green Lantern saga. Stay tuned for more updates!
