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

James Gunn's upcoming Superman film introduces a fresh take on the DC universe, featuring Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern's Guy Gardner. In a recent interview with TV Guide, Fillion shared insights into his unique portrayal of the character, highlighting a departure from previous iterations. "He's a jerk!" Fillion exclaimed, emphasizing that being a Green Lantern doesn't require goodness, just fearlessness. "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 pointed out Gardner’s hubris, suggesting that his character's overconfidence might be his superpower. "I think if he has a superpower, it might be his overconfidence, in that he thinks he could take on Superman," he said. "He can't!"

This Superman film marks the first entry in the rebooted DC Cinematic Universe, kicking off the new chapter titled "Gods and Monsters." Alongside this cinematic venture, HBO is developing a series called Lanterns, focusing on other Green Lanterns. The show, starring Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart, is slated to premiere in 2026.

The cast of Superman includes 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 set to hit theaters on July 11, 2025.