Josh Brolin Declines Lanterns Role, DCU Still Looking for Hal Jordan

DC Studios’ Lanterns series will have to find another Hal Jordan, as THR reports Josh Brolin has turned down an opportunity to play the character in the series.

Confirming rumors, THR noted that Brolin was being eyed to play Hal Jordan, one of the more well-known members of the Green Lantern comic series. Jordan is often used as the “main” Green Lantern in DC Comics and other properties.

The report mentions that Brolin was actually offered the role in August, but turned it down for unknown reasons. No other information on who DC Studios will turn to is available, although THR did also shoot down a rumor that Matthew McConaughey would be considered.

What do we know about Lanterns?

Lanterns will be executive produced by Chris Mundy (True Detective: Night Country, Ozark), Damon Lindelof (The Leftovers, Watchmen) and Tom King (Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow), with the latter two also co-writing the series. It received an official straight-to-series-order at HBO last June 2024, more than a year since the 8-episode project was first announced back in January 2023.

“The series follows 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,” the synopsis for the show reads.

“We’re thrilled to bring this seminal DC title to HBO with Chris, Damon and Tom at the helm,” DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran previously said in a statement. “John Stewart and Hal Jordan are two of DC’s most compelling characters, and Lanterns brings them to life in an original detective story that is a foundational part of the unified DCU we’re launching next summer with Superman.”