Moviefone Editorial

Tag: garrett-dillahunt

  • First Look at HBO DC Series ‘Lanterns’

    (L to R) Aaron Pierre as John Stewart and Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan in 'Lanterns'. Photo: John P. Johnson/HBO.
    (L to R) Aaron Pierre as John Stewart and Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan in ‘Lanterns’. Photo: John P. Johnson/HBO.

    Preview:

    • The first image of HBO series ‘Lanterns’ is online.
    • This new series adapts the ‘Green Lantern’ DC Comics, but in grounded fashion.
    • Leads Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler feature in this initial look.

    The ‘Green Lantern’ comics are famously the story of a human drawn into a mighty, galaxy-spanning force who use rings with the power to conjure up all manner of creations in their fight for justice.

    You might be surprised then, to learn that the latest small screen incarnation of the story has an initial promotional image featuring two men walking down a dusty road somewhere in America.

    Yet if you’ve been following the production history of new HBO/DC Studios series ‘Lanterns,’ you probably won’t be shocked, since the show is designed to be a more grounded take on the story.

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    Here’s Chris Mundy, executive producer and showrunner on the tone for the show:

    “From the start, our driving force has been to deliver a layered drama –– rooted in nuanced storytelling and rich world building –– that balances tension and mystery with honest, authentic emotion. The goal is to create something that feels timeless and grounded without sacrificing the magic of the source material.”

    Let’s not also forget that the cameras have only just started rolling on the show, and even if (more likely when) the characters get to use their powers in service of the mystery, those visual effects take time to bring to screen, even for a still image.

    And now we know what stars Aaron Pierre (who recently led ‘Rebel Ridge’) and ‘Friday Night Lights’ actor Kyle Chandler look like when they’re not clad in green or dishing out jewelry-based justice.

    Related Article: Ulrich Thomsen to Play Supervillain Sinestro in the DC and HBO series ‘Lanterns’

    What’s the story of ‘Green Lantern’ in comics form?

    Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps from DC Comics. Photo: DC Comics.
    Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps from DC Comics. Photo: DC Comics.

    Created in its first incarnation (a Lantern named Alan Scott) in 1940 by Martin Nodell and Bill Finger, the concept of the ‘Green Lantern’ comics is that of a super-powered, police force, battling evil doers with rings that allow them to channel energy into different forms. There are many Lanterns, who patrol the known and unknown universe.

    ‘Green Lantern’s history on screen has been seriously mixed. Though different takes on the character have flourished in animated movies and series, their live-action counterparts have had less luck. Ryan Reynolds played the Hal Jordan version in a 2011 movie that didn’t triumph at the box office, and there have been fleeting glimpses on the small screen.

    Even Zack Snyder didn’t manage to realize his chosen Lantern –– John Stewart –– in his mammoth Snyder Cut of ‘Justice League’. Despite shooting a cameo with Wayne T. Carr as Stewart, Warners asked him to remove the character because of the studio’s own plans. In the end, Snyder swapped in Martian Manhunter.

    James Gunn and the cast of 'Superman.'
    (Center) James Gunn and the cast of ‘Superman.’ Photo: James Gunn’s Instagram Account.

    James Gunn has Nathan Fillion playing the Guy Gardner incarnation in his ‘Superman’ movie, which lands on July 11th.

    And the show had been in development before Gunn and Safran made their big DC Studios announcement. Back in 2020, ‘Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’ Seth Grahame-Smith hopped aboard to write and run what HBO Max (as the streaming service was then called) was picturing its most expensive series to date, a space-set ‘Green Lantern’ drama whose focus would be the Alan Scott and Guy Gardner iterations of the character among the first and most popular versions.

    ‘Lanterns’ will follow the Hal Jordan (Chandler) and John Stewart (Pierre) characters, as new recruit Stewart and Lantern legend Jordan are described in the latest official synopsis as “two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.”

    So, think ‘True Detective’ meets ‘Green Lantern’. But comic book fans may recognize the basic story from the popular 1970’s arc ‘Hard Traveling Heroes’, which focused on Hal Jordan and his friend Oliver Queen (Green Arrow) traveling across America . Stewart was also featured in that story, and the producers are likely swapping out Queen for Pierre’s character.

    But there will be some powerful antagonism involved, as Ulrich Thomsen is playing Sinestro a former Green Lantern who turned rogue and is described as ruthless yet charming.

    His manipulative nature drives his enduring obsession with his former mentee, Hal Jordan. The character was created by John Broome and Gil Kane and first appeared in the comic book “Green Lantern, Volume 2, #56” released in 1961.

    Who else is in ‘Lanterns’?

    Garret Dillahunt in 'Red Right Hand,' a Magnolia Pictures release. © Red Right Hand Productions LLC, Steve Squall. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
    Garret Dillahunt in ‘Red Right Hand,’ a Magnolia Pictures release. © Red Right Hand Productions LLC, Steve Squall. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    The cast also includes ‘No Country for Old Men’s Kelly Macdonald, ’12 Years a Slave’ actor Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan (who appeared in (‘The Night Of’), and the aforementioned Thomsen.

    Who is working on ‘Lanterns’?

    DC Comics' Green Lantern John Stewart. Photo: DC Comics.
    DC Comics’ Green Lantern John Stewart. Photo: DC Comics.

    Mundy, whose resume includes stints on Netflix’s ‘Ozark’ and HBO’s ‘True Detective: Night Country’, is running the new series, working alongside ‘Watchmen’s Damon Lindelof and DC comics writer Tom King (whose ‘Supergirl’ comic is the basis for the new movie featuring the character).

    And James Hawes, who has worked on series including ‘Black Mirror’ ‘Snowpiercer’ and Season 1 of ‘Slow Horses,’ will direct the first two episodes.

    He’s not alone –– ‘Watchmen’ veteran Stephen Williams, ‘Under the Bridge’s Geeta Vasant Patel, and former ‘Ozark’ director Alik Sakharov are also handling episodes.

    Since they oversee the whole DC Studios arm, filmmaker Gunn and producer Peter Safran are executive producers alongside Ron Schmidt.

    When will ‘Lanterns’ be on screens?

    We’re still waiting to learn when HBO will premiere the show, though it is reportedly targeting an early 2026 launch.

    All together now, let us recite the freshly amended Lantern Corps oath… “In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil’s might beware my power…Green Lantern’s light! On Earth. Probably in a diner.”

    DC Comics' Hal Jordan/Green Lantern. Photo courtesy of DC.com.
    DC Comics’ Hal Jordan/Green Lantern. Photo courtesy of DC.com.

    List of Green Lantern Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy ‘Green Lantern’ Movies On Amazon

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  • ‘The Dead Don’t Hurt’ – Viggo Mortensen and Vicky Krieps

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    Opening in theaters on May 31st is the new Western ‘The Dead Don’t Hurt’, which was written and directed by Viggo Mortensen (‘Crimes of the Future’). The film also stars Mortensen, as well as Vicky Krieps (‘Old’), Solly McLeod (‘Jericho Ridge’), Garrett Dillahunt (‘Red Right Hand’), and Danny Huston (‘Wonder Woman’).

    Related Article: Director Mario Van Peebles and Mandela Van Peebles Talk ‘Outlaw Posse’

    Viggo Mortensen and Vicky Krieps talk 'The Dead Don't Hurt'.
    (L to R) Viggo Mortensen and Vicky Krieps talk ‘The Dead Don’t Hurt’.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with filmmaker and actor Viggo Mortensen and actress Vicky Krieps about their work on ‘The Dead Don’t Hurt,’ developing the screenplay, the characters, Krieps’ experience being directed by Mortensen, working with the crew and why Westerns are fun to make.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Mortensen, Krieps, Danny Huston and Solly McLeod.

    Viggo Mortensen in 'The Dead Don't Hurt'.
    Viggo Mortensen in ‘The Dead Don’t Hurt’. Credit: Marcel Zyskind.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Viggo, can you talk about developing the screenplay and the themes you wanted to explore as a director?

    Viggo Mortensen: Well, I started out writing this. It was during the pandemic 2020, and then it took, as it always does with independent films, some years to find the money to shoot it. But I started writing a story about a strong independent woman and then decided to place it in the west, turned into a Western, which I like the idea of. I’ve been in some, and I grew up like most kids in my generation, seeing them on TV and going to the movies and seeing them. Themes, I did want to explore, for example, the character of Vivienne played by Vicky. She is our central character, which is unusual to have a woman be the central character in a Western, and even more unusual to stay with her when her male partner goes off to war or on an adventure of some kind. That’s what we do. It’s really her story.

    Vicky Krieps in 'The Dead Don't Hurt'.
    Vicky Krieps in ‘The Dead Don’t Hurt’. Credit: Marcel Zyskind.

    MF: Vicky, can you talk about your approach to playing Vivienne?

    Vicky Krieps: Well, I’m a strong independent woman in a particular time. I think maybe that is why it was not so difficult to play because reading his script, I was really reminded of society today and how it’s all coming back and how everything is finally built on the structure of the western world, the western town. We’re still dealing with fighting over land. We’re still pushing borders. We’re still fighting our neighbor for being someone else. So, I really felt reminded of today. Playing her, I really was reminded of myself. I must fight myself a lot to try and become the woman I want to be, even if today it’s supposed to be easier, but I’m still struggling with the same preconceptions. If you’re a woman, you’re supposed to be this, and if you’re a mother, you’re supposed to be that. If you’re an actress, you’re supposed to be this. So, I struggle myself with this a lot. I think playing Vivienne was the first time I was able to let myself go in acting and let it happen and let it be close to myself.

    Solly McLeod and Viggo Mortensen in 'The Dead Don't Hurt'.
    (L to R) Solly McLeod and Viggo Mortensen in ‘The Dead Don’t Hurt’. Credit: Marcel Zyskind.

    MF: Viggo, director John Ford once said, “If they knew how much fun it was to make a Western, they wouldn’t let us do it.” Do you agree with that? Is it fun making a Western and what do you love about this genre?

    VM: Well, it was a lot of work, but like Vicky, I knew how to ride horses before working on this movie. I think we both loved being in those landscapes and in that place. It was hard work, early mornings, long days of work, most scenes were outdoors, but getting to be on horseback and those landscapes was a treat. It was special.

    MF: Vicky, what was it like working with Viggo as both an actor and director?

    VK: So, it was my first time. I know we are all multiple people, but it was interesting because I always had to be on my toes and I always had to remind myself who I was responding to, not so much depending on if Viggo would be different or talk different. It was more me and myself, what I was expecting. What are my expectations, what am I projecting? What am I projecting onto the director to be and onto the actor to be? I always had to come back to reality or to the moment and connect with the true thing in that moment, which was if he was the actor in that moment, what did my actor partner just say to me and not think about what is the director maybe thinking about? If that makes sense. So, it was a great school.

    Director Viggo Mortensen on the set of 'The Dead Don't Hurt'.
    Director Viggo Mortensen on the set of ‘The Dead Don’t Hurt’. Credit: Marcela Nava.

    MF: Finally, Viggo, can you talk about working with your cinematographer to set up shots? Did you storyboard your scenes before shooting?

    VM: No, I don’t storyboard, but I do make shot lists and I’m careful about that. I mean, I think that’s what I’ve learned from the good directors I’ve worked for. Women and men who are very different and make different kinds of movies, but they all prepare. Even if you prepare perfectly, there’s always something more you can do and there’s going to be something that happens. Each day is going to be a problem, little ones, big ones. Making movies is about solving problems all the time and for everybody. The other thing is to just make sure everybody on the team, the crew, the actors, that they know that it’s clear from the beginning that their ideas matter, what they feel about things. I can disagree, but I want to hear it because a good idea can come from anywhere and we have one shot to make the scene. We have one shot to tell this story and let’s try to do it together. It makes people feel like it’s not just another job. It may be difficult, but we’re in it together and it’s special. It’s a special story, and their opinion is valued. It doesn’t matter who you are. So, we had a great experience in that regard. It was a good team.

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    What is the plot of ‘The Dead Don’t Hurt’?

    Vivienne Le Coudy (Vicky Krieps) and Holger Olsen (Viggo Mortensen) begin a life together on a homestead outside the town of Elks Flat in 1860s Nevada, but a fateful decision by Holger leaves Vivienne alone to fend for herself against the insidious, corrupt men of the town.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Dead Don’t Hurt’?

    • Viggo Mortensen as Holger Olsen
    • Vicky Krieps as Vivienne Le Coudy
    • Garret Dillahunt as Alfred Jeffries
    • Solly McLeod as Weston Jeffries
    • Danny Huston as Mayor Rudolph Schiller
    • Nadia Litz as Martha Gilkyson
    Garret Dillahunt and Solly McLeod star in 'The Dead Don't Hurt'.
    (L to R) Garret Dillahunt and Solly McLeod star in ‘The Dead Don’t Hurt’. Photo: Shout! Studios.

    Other Movies and TV Shows Similar to ‘The Dead Don’t Hurt‘:

    Buy Tickets: ‘The Dead Don’t Hurt’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Viggo Mortensen Movies on Amazon

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