On Netflix on January 16 is ‘The Rip’ a new police thriller that reunites Ben Affleck (‘Argo’) and Matt Damon (‘The Departed’) for the story of Miami law enforcement who stumble on a giant stash of drug cash, and the chaotic moral quandary that opens up between their team.
Following their successful reunion on ‘Air,’ Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have re-teamed on screen for this new cop thriller, handled by veteran director Joe Carnahan.
Looking to fit squarely into the gritty, brutal law enforcement genre, it lets them go full macho –– but has more going on than you might think at first glance.
Carnahan, who wrote the script based on a story by Michael McGrale, has here found a project so ideally in his wheelhouse he might as well have his name written across it.
The story crackles with acronym-heavy police action and plenty of testosterone, but it also finds time for nuance.
And though you might not guess the Miami setting beyond some opening shots (and dialogue drops) given that the scenes are mostly at night in a cul-de-sac, there is plenty of style on display here, particularly as things ramp up in the third act.
Affleck and Damon naturally work well off of each other, finding a dynamic that works as longtime cop friends whose connection is pushed to the limit here.
Around them, the likes of Teyana Taylor (even if she doesn’t get nearly as much to do as in ‘One Battle After Another’), Steven Yeun and Kyle Chandler contribute superb moments.
‘The Rip’ won’t be to everyone’s taste, but if you enjoy your thrillers hard-edged and unexpectedly crafted, it’s certainly got something. And we don’t just mean an unexpected haul of drug money.
A group of Miami cops discovers a stash of millions in cash, leading to distrust as outsiders learn about the huge seizure, making them question who to rely on.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with writer and director Joe Carnahan about his work on ‘The Rip’, bringing the project to Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, working with them on set, their characters’ relationship, the supporting cast, building suspense for the twists and turns, the action sequences, working with Netflix, and why he’s not disappointed that the movie isn’t going to be shown in theaters.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Carnahan, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and Sasha Calle.
Moviefone: To begin with, I understand that you brought this project yourself to Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s company, Artists Equity. Can you talk about that? Also, at a Netflix event last year Affleck told a story about you pitching this project to him as ‘Heat’ meets ‘Training Day’ and his response was, “Kind of like ‘The Town’?” Did that really happen?
Joe Carnahan: That is inaccurate. I don’t know where he got that. No, you know what it was? Matt and Ben and I are all the same age. So, all the films that we loved as kids, ‘Serpico’ and ‘Heat’ and you know, ‘Lethal Weapon’. Like, these types of movies, and I think we wanted to make something like that that was kind of crowd pleasing and in the cop genre, which I love and have had some success with. Someone at Actors Equity got a hold of the script. I had not gone out wide with it. Matt and Ben and I have been friends for many years. The AE executive said, “Let me get it to them”. It got to Matt within 24 hours, and he called me 24 hours later, and then Ben called me. They were like, “What are you thinking for the cast?” I’m like, “What do you mean? Come on, I want you guys.” So, it was just a dream to have guys that were running the studio that could put the wheels in motion here. At the same time, these two are movie stars. They are two guys that grew up together that happened to be movie stars. It doesn’t happen like that. So, it was a joy from start to finish. It really was.
MF: Obviously, Affleck is an accomplished director in his own right, and he and Damon are also Oscar winning screenwriters. What was it like having two veteran actors and experienced filmmakers on your set and working with them to create this movie?
JC: I know. Having them say my lines, these guys who have little gold statues for their writing. It was incredible. Again, they’re both wonderful filmmakers. They understand it. They see it from a 30,000-foot vantage, right? They get what you’re up against. They get what the challenges are, and they get what the obstacles would be. So, I found them to be nothing but lovely and helpful. Especially Ben, who’s coming out of a directorial background. He’s walked the same roads I’ve walked. He’s put in those hours behind a camera. He understands. He’s a world-class filmmaker. He really is. So, to have that level of competency, I could be a fool and still get to the finish line. But they gave me this wonderful grace and room to try things and they were game for stuff. We had a blast, man. We really did.
MF: Can you talk about how their long friendship together and how that really plays into these characters, and was there ever any talk of them flipping roles? Because they both could have easily played the other part.
JC: You know what they asked me, “Who do you want us to play?” I always had in mind that Matt would play Dumars. That is the slightly senior guy. But they absolutely could have gone the other way, which is an interesting role reversal. I’m sure AI will be capable of flipping Matt and Ben’s roles next month. But again, I’m trading on a 40-year plus friendship. The sense of that and the gravitational pull of that is something you could feel when you’re watching them. You know what I mean? You can’t say that about everybody. Not only do they have natural chemistry, but these are two people who love each other. Then once you get in there, now you’re messing with not only that personal history, but you’re messing with who they are as movie stars. You’re messing with their cinematic presence, which is very different. But it was the moving between one and the other, and then sometimes coexisting at the same time, which was fantastic. Again, I think that’s what gives all their scenes this real authentic sense because they do care deeply for each other. Then there are moments where you feel like one of them is betraying the other one, and that lands with that much more presence and weight. So, that was great.
MF: Without giving anything away, the film keeps you guessing the whole time as to who the good guys are and who are the bad guys. Can you talk about creating that suspense and building to the twists and turns?
JC: Yeah, it was a lot of Mike McGrale and I really sitting down and structuring this in the outline stage, which can be tedious and time consuming. But ultimately, it’ll give you the greatest dividends because you’ve really leaned into the technical aspects of screenwriting, which can be tricky. But I think once we did that groundwork, and once the script was done, I wrote it fast. It was like five weeks to write the script. But all of this was rigorously thought out and planned and machined in that outline stage. Then once you knew that it’s like a Rube Goldberg device, like this trip trips that and drops some mouse traps. So, it’s a lot of fun because once you know it’s working on the page, then it just becomes execution on the day. I always say this, it’s like there’s three films. There’s a film you write. There’s a film you shoot and there’s a film you cut, and oftentimes they’re wildly different. This was consistent throughout, I think if anything, it got leaner. We cut down information as we went on because we felt like we understand. I don’t want to pander to the audience. If I feel like we’re condescending, then let’s keep it moving.
MF: Can you talk about executing the action sequences?
JC: I had a second unit director, Scott Rogers, who I just adore, who’s talented and did a lot of work with me and the DP and are a really great group of guys who understood. It’s like, “Here are the boards, here’s what we want, here’s the shots we want, and then anything after that you get, knock yourself out.” Of course, they always give you fantastic stuff on top of that. So, it was a lot of planning. We use this Libra Head, which is this expensive stabilized head for our shots. If we shot sticks or handheld, we’d use the Libra Head. To do that kind percussive seismic thing when the gunfight starts to make you feel like, “Oh, my God.” I wanted to just feel it in your chest. We would destabilize those things. We did what’s called seizure wheels. We just did these kinds of wild shots, but it created this unsettling effect. That’s always what you’re trying to do. You don’t want to feel like you’re treading over the same ground repeatedly and the familiar. You want to mess with it and see what you can do. I think we did some interesting kind of innovative things in that and the action.
MF: We’ve talked about Ben and Matt, but can you talk about putting together the rest of the supporting cast including Teyana Taylor, Steven Yeun, Kyle Chandler, and Scott Adkins?
JC:Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas cast us, and they just did a phenomenal job. I think casting is sometimes 90% of your work. Like, who do you put in this movie? Everyone from Catalina Sandino Moreno to Steve, to Scott, to Néstor Carbonell, who I’ve worked with before. I have a history with a lot of these people. Again, you just get these people working at such a high level. Scott Atkins, who’s not seen the film yet, he will see it tonight. I think he’s just going to be blown away because I didn’t require him to blade kick anyone in the head, which is kind of his stock and trade. So, it’s exciting. When you, when you have this collection of talented people and you get good material, it’s hard to screw that up. You’ve got to work extra hard to screw that up.
MF: Finally, what was your experience like working with Netflix and are you disappointed that the film will not have a theatrical release?
JC: You know what? No, because I think what’s happened is, you know, we used to live and die by Friday night and the weekend box office. It’s like, “My movie didn’t work, and it is dead in the water.” I like that we’ve eliminated that undue tension of, “what if I’m not number one?”. I never liked the box office stakes. Unless you win, then you’re happy. But I think that so many homes now have mini theaters. They have very sophisticated televisions that aren’t that expensive. They have very sophisticated sound systems that aren’t that expensive. I know in my house; I’ve got this great room that is all blacked out with bean bags, and that’s where you watch movies. That movie in that room would play just as well as anything else. Like, that communal experience of being in a dark room with strangers and sharing something, that’s never going away. I certainly love it. I don’t ever want theaters to go, and we’re going to see it tonight in theater. So, we get the best of both worlds. I do think it’s strong, but it’s strong regardless. Netflix has been a dream. Honest to God, I can’t say enough good things about those guys. From the marketing to the publicity, they have been top of the top, and just amazing.
A group of Miami cops discovers a stash of millions in cash, leading to distrust as outsiders learn about the huge seizure, making them question who to rely on.
Laura Linney is being linked to a role in DC/HBO series ‘Lanterns.’
There is speculation that she’s playing Carol Ferris.
Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre star in the new show.
Though it already has an impressive cast, new DC Studios/HBO comic book-based series ‘Lanterns’ appears to have gotten an extra shot of dramatic power.
No official confirmation has emerged yet, but Sneider is already speculating that she could be playing Carol Ferris, the love of Lantern Hal Jordan’s life (that role is being brought to screens by Kyle Chandler) and someone who ultimately –– in the comics, at least –– becomes the villain known as Star Sapphire.
That’s all still rumor and conjecture at this point, but we do know that Aaron Pierre is co-starring alongside Chandler as fellow Lantern John Stewart.
What’s the story of ‘Green Lantern’ in comics form?
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.
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 Chandler and 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.”
“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.”
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.
In breaking news, Deadline brings word that Chris Coy is also part of the ensemble.
In a guest starring role, Coy will be the new character of ‘Waylon Sanders,’ an intelligent survivor… or a nervous truck driver. Age and real name unknown, he’s unbound by the laws of nature.
More recently, we learned that Nathan Fillion would be bringing his Guy Gardner character –– another Lantern –– to the show, following his debut in James Gunn‘s ‘Superman’ this summer.
Who is working on ‘Lanterns’?
James Gunn at CinemaCon 2025. Photo: Warner Bros.
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).
Here’s what Hawes has had to say to Collider about his approach to the show:
“There is a very particular humor that they brought to this. It’s very rooted in a way that I like to think we achieve with ‘Slow Horses,’ that I achieve with things like my ‘Black Mirror’ [episodes], and yet there is a rich vein of humor running through it. I’m such a huge fan of Damon [Lindelof] and Chris [Mundy] and the writing that they’ve done in the past… You always find a scene or two that you think, ‘I cant wait to be stood beside the camera and the cast, directing this scene on the day.’ “
Nathan Fillion will appear in HBO/DC series ‘Lanterns.’
This new series adapts the ‘Green Lantern’ DC Comics in grounded fashion.
The show stars Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler.
While the mantra all through the development phase for the new HBO/DC Studios series ‘Lanterns’ –– which adapts the Green Lantern comic books –– has been a grounded take on the powerful superheroes, it would seem it’s not above a slightly more colorful character (pun intended).
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And it’s also crossing over with another project in James Gunn’s ever-expanding superhero universe, the one that Warner Bros. is hoping will make its comic book-birthed movie slate work –– ‘Superman.’
No, we’re not likely to see David Corenswet’s Man of Steel touch down during the show, but Nathan Fillion will show up.
Fillion, in case you hadn’t heard, will be playing Guy Gardner, a fellow Lantern to Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart, in ‘Superman,’ which flies into theaters on July 11th.
(Center) James Gunn and the cast of ‘Superman.’ Photo: James Gunn’s Instagram Account.
Our eyebrows, we must admit, are raised, because the look of Fillion’s character in the movie doesn’t necessarily line up with the more down-to-Earth look of the show so far (we got our first glimpse of that recently). His is a more comical appearance, with a savage bowl cut and an arrogant attitude.
Yet we haven’t seen him in action yet, so who knows exactly how he’ll work on the small screen. And if we’re honest, it’s always entertaining to see Fillion show up.
What’s the story of ‘Green Lantern’ in comics form?
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.
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.
(L to R) Aaron Pierre as John Stewart and Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan in ‘Lanterns’. Photo: John P. Johnson/HBO.
‘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.”
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.”
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.
In breaking news, Deadline brings word that Chris Coy is also part of the ensemble.
In a guest starring role, Coy will be the new character of ‘Waylon Sanders,’ an intelligent survivor… or a nervous truck driver. Age and real name unknown, he’s unbound by the laws of nature.
Who is working on ‘Lanterns’?
James Gunn at CinemaCon 2025. Photo: Warner Bros.
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).
Since they oversee the whole DC Studios arm, filmmaker Gunn and producer Peter Safran are executive producers alongside Ron Schmidt.
Where else have we seen Nathan Fillion?
Nathan Fillion in ‘Castle’. Photo: ABC.
Where haven’t we! Aside from his regular gig on ABC series ‘The Rookie’ and his previous long-running show ‘Castle,’ he’s a genre favourite who has cropped up in a variety of shows and movies.
(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.
What’s the story of ‘Green Lantern’ in comics form?
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.
(Center) James Gunn and the cast of ‘Superman.’ Photo: James Gunn’s Instagram Account.
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.
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).
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.
(Left) Ulrich Thomsen in ‘The Good Traitor’. Photo: Denmark. (RIght) Sinestro from DC Comics. Photo: Dc Comics.
Preview:
Ulrich Thomsen is the latest recruit for the DC ‘Lanterns’ series.
He’s aboard to be the villainous character Sinestro.
Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre are playing the lead roles.
After years spent in frustrating development (you can read its somewhat tortured history below), the DC-spawned, HBO-based series ‘Lanterns, ’ based on the Green Lantern character is finally, actually seeing some forward movement.
The casting of Sinestro is an interesting one, since the logline for the show (again, more on that below) has been at pains to portray it as a gritty, grounded take on the ‘Green Lantern’ concept, but the presence of the powerful character suggests there will still be some be some energy abilities on display.
With the series still in pre-production (it should kick off shooting next month), perhaps ‘Green Lantern’ fans will finally get to see the series –– the casting is certainly intriguing and the HBO budget means when effects are needed they’ll hopefully be impressive.
What’s the story of ‘Green Lantern’ in comics form?
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.
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 James Gunn and Peter Safran made their big 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 and John Stewart 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’…
Sinestro, meanwhile, is 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 is working on the current incarnation of ‘Lanterns’?
DC Comics’ Green Lantern John Stewart. Photo: DC Comics.
Chris Mundy, whose resume includes stints on Netflix’s ‘Ozark’ and HBO’s ‘True Detective: Night Country’, is showrunner on 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).
Aaron Pierre is joining the DC Studios TV series ‘Lanterns.’
The show adapts the ‘Green Lantern’ comics.
Damon Lindelof and Chris Mundy are among the producers of the new show.
The details are truly falling into place for DC Studios/HBO’s ‘Green Lanterns’ comics-based TV series ‘Lanterns.’
We learned last month that Kyle Chandler had entered talks to play one of the key lead roles, Lantern Corps member Hal Jordan, and he’s now signed a deal to star.
Casting his co-star came down to final decision between Stephan James (‘Race’) and Aaron Pierre, who recently showed his bad-ass side in ‘Rebel Ridge’ on Netflix. And now we know that Pierre has won the role of John Stewart, Jordan’s fellow corpsman.
It’s a much-anticipated role, since Pierre will be playing a character based on one of the States’ first black superheroes, and the show itself is a key part of DC Studios bosses James Gunn and Peter Safran’s strategy going forward.
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What’s the story of ‘Green Lantern’ in comics form?
DC Comics’ Green Lantern John Stewart. 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.
Gunn has Nathan Fillion playing the Guy Gardner incarnation in his ‘Superman’ movie, which lands on July 11th next year.
(Center) James Gunn and the cast of ‘Superman.’ Photo: James Gunn’s Instagram Account.
And the show had been in development before Gunn and Safran made their big 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 and John Stewart 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’…
Jodie Foster in HBO’s ‘True Detective: Night Country.’ Photo: Michele K. Short/HBO.
Chris Mundy, whose resume includes stints on Netflix’s ‘Ozark’ and HBO’s ‘True Detective: Night Country’, is showrunner on 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).
(Left) Kyle Chandler in ‘Friday Night Lights’. Photo: Universal Television. (Left) DC Comics’ Green Lantern. Photo: DC Comics.
Preview:
Kyle Chandler is in talks to play Hal Jordan in DC’s ‘Lanterns’ series.
Josh Brolin was previously offered the role.
Damon Lindelof and Chris Mundy are among the producers of the new show.
Josh Brolin may not have agreed to the solemn duty of wearing and using the Green Lantern ring for the long-gestating DC StudiosTV series for HBO based on the comic book property, but now we know who –– at least is in talks to do so –– as Deadline has learned that ‘Friday Night Lights’ veteran Kyle Chandler is in talks for the Hal Jordan role originally offered to Brolin.
With the show finally up and heading into a more solid production phase, we can expect to hear more casting news soon.
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What’s the story of ‘Green Lantern’ in comics form?
DC Comics’ Hal Jordan/Green Lantern. Photo courtesy of DC.com.
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.
(Center) James Gunn and the cast of ‘Superman.’ Photo: James Gunn’s Instagram Account.
And the show had been in development before Gunn and Safran made their big 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 and John Stewart 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.”
Who is working on ‘Lanterns’?
(L to R) Green Lanterns Hal Jordan and John Stewart from DC Comics. Photo: DC Comics.
And, according to Jeff Sneider, there have been talks for Lindelof’s ‘Watchmen’ collaborator, director Stephen Williams, to handle the first episode of the new series.
According to various sources, the likes of Matthew McConaughey, Chris Pine and Ewan McGregor were all on the radar for this one around the time that Brolin was being approached. But it would seem that the team has at least locked into one of its leads, with the John Stewart news still to come.
Another talented actor has joined George Clooney‘s upcoming Netflix sci-fi drama.
Kyle Chandler has signed on to star in the much-anticipated project, Deadline reports. The Emmy winner follows Clooney and Felicity Jones, who already nabbed key roles. Clooney is doubling as director of the still-untitled film, working from a script by Mark L. Smith that is based on the 2016 novel “Good Morning, Midnight” by Lily Brooks-Dalton.
Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the film tells the parallel stories of Augustine (Clooney), a lonely scientist in the Arctic, and an astronaut who is trying to get home to Earth. Augustine will race to make contact with the crew of the Aether spacecraft as they attempt their return. Chandler’s character, Mitchell, is an American astronaut.
While the project marks Clooney’s first film for Netflix, this is more familiar territory for Chandler. He starred in the streamer’s series “Bloodline,” which ran for three seasons. Chandler is also reteaming with Clooney, his co-star in the Hulu miniseries “Catch-22,” which Clooney directed and executive produced. Other recent work from Chandler includes movies such as “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” and “First Man.”
The upcoming film will be produced by Clooney and Grant Heslov (via Smokehouse Pictures). It also comes from Anonymous Content and Syndicate Entertainment.
“It’s all a numbers game. And when your number’s up … your number’s up.”
A character blithely utters that line in the full trailer for Hulu’s upcoming adaptation of “Catch-22,” Joseph Heller’s seminal novel. It is a pointed reminder of the pointlessness of war that is experienced by the protagonist of the story, Yossarian (Christopher Abbott), a U.S. Air Force bombardier in World War II.
The trailer lays out the titular “catch,” a hilariously sinister bureaucratic rule that states a pilot can only avoid a mission if he claims insanity. But by claiming insanity. Unfortunately, by asking to be grounded, the pilot actually proves his sanity.
The star-studded adaptation also features George Clooney (an executive producer and co-director of two episodes). He was originally supposed to play Colonel Cathcart, Yossarian’s commanding officer, but stepped back to focus on his other duties. Kyle Chandler took on the role. Clooney now plays Scheisskopf.
