Following his standout role in Rebel Ridge, Aaron Pierre is reportedly in the running to join the DC Universe.
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Pierre is being considered for the character of John Stewart in the forthcoming detective series, Lanterns, which is based on the DC comics. He and Stephan James are believed to be the final candidates for the part, though it’s unclear if they are currently auditioning. The report indicates that a selection may be reached by the weekend.
Pierre showcased his ability to lead an action-driven narrative with his role in Rebel Ridge, directed by Jeremy Saulnier and released on Netflix. He also has prior experience in the superhero genre, portraying Dev-Em in Syfy’s Krypton. Stephan James is widely recognized for his performances as Walter Cruz in Homecoming and Alonzo “Fonny” Hunt in If Beale Street Could Talk.
Damson Idris, who is set to appear alongside Brad Pitt in Apple’s upcoming film about Formula 1 racing, is no longer being considered for the role of John Stewart due to a conflict in his schedule.
Earlier in the week, Kyle Chandler was reportedly nearing a deal to portray Hal Jordan in the series.
The casting of Green Lantern John Stewart is entering its final stages, with Aaron Pierre, star of Netflix thriller REBEL RIDGE, and Stephan James contending for the role, set to star alongside Kyle Chandler in HBO & DC’s LANTERNS https://t.co/nc6wd2NNnA
— Borys Kit (@Borys_Kit) September 27, 2024
In Lanterns, Hal Jordan and John Stewart are intergalactic law enforcement officers within the Green Lantern Corps, delving into a murder investigation set in the American heartland. Hal assumes the role of a reluctant mentor to John. Co-CEOs of DC Studios James Gunn and Peter Safran have likened Lanterns to True Detective, touting it as an “event worthy of HBO.”
In June, HBO gave Lanterns a direct-to-series order. The project will be helmed by Chris Mundy (Ozark), with Damon Lindelof (Watchmen) and comic book writer Tom King serving as writers and executive producers. Mundy will take on the role of showrunner.
Lanterns will be part of the DC Universe’s Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.