Kyle Chandler has revealed that the upcoming DCU series Lanterns came very close to having a different Hal Jordan. However, the actor says he decided to accept the role after an unusual second table read.
Kyle Chandler reveals why he accepted Hal Jordan role in Lanterns
Lanterns co-creator Damon Lindelof recently revealed that the team had always visualized Chandler in the role of Hal Jordan. However, they didn’t think the King Kong star would accept the part (via Television Academy).
“It was like, ‘Who do we envision? Kyle!” Lindelof remarked, adding, “He’s got the gruff energy, the cynicism, also the nobility, the humor. He’s the entire package.” The veteran screenwriter then explained why they saw Chandler’s casting as unfeasible, stating, “He hasn’t done superhero stuff or this kind of genre stuff before. We’re never going to get that guy.”
Chandler confirmed that he was indeed hesitant about taking on the role when he first received the script for the HBO Max series and did not accept immediately. However, Chandler said he decided to give the offer a second chance after some help from his wife, Kathryn, and his daughter, Sydney.
Recalling a spontaneous living-room table read he had with his family that convinced him to join Lanterns, Chandler noted, “I said, ‘Would you guys read this with me? Let’s take characters and just read through the whole thing.’ When we finished, they both literally, at the same time, jumped up off the couch and pointed at me and said, ‘You have to do this.'”
Described as an intergalactic version of the acclaimed crime-drama series True Detective, the much-anticipated DCU series premieres on HBO Max on August 16. Alongside Chandler, the series is led by Aaron Pierre as another iconic Green Lantern, John Stewart, with Nathan Fillion reprising his role from 2025’s Superman as fellow fan-favorite Lantern Guy Gardner.
Originally reported by Apoorv Rastogi on ComingSoon.
