Proving once again that you can’t always trust rumors, James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU has now found its John Stewart a.k.a. Green Lantern in Rebel Ridge star Aaron Pierre. The actor and recent action superstar joins Kyle Chandler in the series Lanterns, which will debut on HBO as part of the new DC shared universe. According to sources via Variety, Pierre beat out a number of up-and-coming actors for the coveted role, including Stephan James (If Beale Street Could Talk) and Damson Idris (Snowfall).

While the most recent rumors had claimed that Stephan James was the frontrunner for the role of John Stewart in the Lanterns series, clearly this was incorrect, with Pierre winning the role following his breakout part in the critically acclaimed and hugely popular Netflix action thriller Rebel Ridge. Pierre will star as Stewart alongside Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan, with the series expected to find the older Green Lantern, Jordan, passing the torch to the younger superhero, with the latter also expected to play a major role on the big screen and eventually come face-to-face with David Corenswet’s Superman.

Lanterns was officially picked up as a HBO Original series back in June, with the show all set to run for eight-episodes as part of the rebooted and recalibrated DCU. The series, which will center on two Green Lanterns in Hal Jordan and John Stewart, is produced by HBO in association with Warner Bros. Television and DC Studios. You can check out the official logline for series below.

“New recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.”

Lanterns has been written by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King, with the trio also serving as executive producers along with James Hawes, who will also helm the first two episodes.

Who Is Lanterns’ John Stewart?

Created by Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams, John Stewart first appeared in the pages of DC Comics back in the early 1970s and was the first African-American superhero to appear in the DC universe. Traditionally, Stewart starts his story as a former U.S. Marine who became a Green Lantern after showing fearlessness and battling an evil android known as a Manhunter after one was sent to Earth to test his mettle by the Guardians of the Universe (a.k.a. the bosses of the Green Lantern Corps.). Stewart is now one of the best-known characters to hold the Green Lantern mantle, thanks partly to his inclusion in the Justice League roster that leads the beloved animated series from the early 2000s.

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After demonstrating his talents and clear movie star qualities in the likes of Brother, Foe, The Underground Railroad, and Genius: MLK/X, Aaron Pierre has seen his star rise rapidly following his captivating performance in this year’s Netflix action thriller Rebel Ridge. Pierre received critical acclaim for his portrayal of a former Marine (sounds familiar) who finds himself at odds with a corrupt police force.

Rebel Ridge has been one of the biggest surprise hits of the year, and with Pierre also due to join the world of Disney as the title character in Mufasa: The Lion King, we can safely assume he will find himself on the tippy top of the Hollywood A-list in no time.

Green Lantern Summary Sworn to preserve intergalactic order, the Green Lantern Corps has existed for centuries. Its newest recruit is the first human to join the ranks. The Green Lanterns have little regard for humans, who have thus far been unable to harness the powers of the ring each member wears. But a gifted and cocky test pilot may be the corps’ only hope when a new enemy threatens the universal balance of power. Expand