Latest news with #GreenLantern
CBC
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Nathan Fillion was a shy comic book kid. Now, he's a Green Lantern in Superman
Nathan Fillion knows what it's like to be a fan, as well as a person at the centre of intense fandom. In an interview with Q 's Tom Power , the Edmonton-born actor says he was a shy comic book kid who loved Spider-Man, the X-Men, Batman and Superman. Now, he's playing Guy Gardner — one of the characters known as Green Lantern — in the latest Superman blockbuster. "Having a love for it myself, I don't feel like I have to service fans out there, I feel more like I have to service me because I'm one of the fans," Fillion tells Power. "I am the fan with the fortunate experience of not only having a front row seat, I'm actually in the catbird seat." WATCH | Nathan Fillion's full interview with Tom Power: Fillion's character in Superman is one of many Green Lanterns in the intergalactic peacekeeping force known as the Green Lantern Corps. As a Green Lantern, his responsibility is to enforce the law and resolve planetary issues, but he's a deeply flawed man. "He's a jerk," Fillion says. "He has a chip on his shoulder. He has had a very tumultuous life growing up. He doesn't like the idea of being passed up or overlooked. He is a sexist. He is a narcissist. He is egomaniacal. He is self-centered." The actor reportedly fought to keep the character's iconic blonde bowl cut from the original comics. For his performance, he took inspiration from Sophia Petrillo, Estelle Getty's character on The Golden Girls. "She had a stroke and that part of her brain that filters out 'maybe I shouldn't say this' had been damaged," he explains. "As was Guy Gardner. He was in an accident. He was hit by a bus and spent some time in a coma at one point. And I said, 'I'm going to take that and say there was a click in there to an already damaged guy. Now, he just doesn't have that filter anymore.'" WATCH | Official trailer for Superman: Growing up in Edmonton, Fillion never could have imagined that he'd one day be sharing the big screen with one of the superheroes he admired. "I didn't know acting was a thing," he says. "I didn't know people would pay you to act. I had no idea what that was all about. I just wished I could be a superhero. I wished I could fly." Looking back, he credits his love of comic books for leading him to where he is today. "I am a fan," Fillion says. "I am a fan of comic books. All the stuff I got in trouble for when I was a kid, daydreaming and drawing in the margins of my binders when I should have been studying, it's all prepared me for this moment." The full interview with Nathan Fillion is available on our YouTube channel and on our podcast, Q with Tom Power . Listen and follow wherever you get your podcasts. Interview with Nathan Fillion produced by Catherine Stockhausen.
USA Today
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
The new 'Superman' is a hit. So what's coming next in the DC universe?
James Gunn had a very specific plan for his audience when launching the interconnected new DC universe with 'Superman': The less they know at first, the better. 'I wanted it to feel like what I felt like as a kid reading comic books, like I didn't know anything about these guys,' says the 'Superman' director and co-head of DC Studios with Peter Safran. 'I'm seeing Superman and his friends with a guy with a magic ring and a bald guy that can transform his body into stuff and all these different people. There were robots and flying dogs and kaiju and all this sorcery and science that seemed like sorcery. And I loved just bringing that magical world to the screen.' Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox While the new DCU technically started last year with the animated series 'Creature Commandos,' 'Superman' (in theaters now) truly launched the rebooted universe. The latest take on the superhero stars David Corenswet as Superman, Nicholas Hoult as arch nemesis Lex Luthor, and a supporting cast of characters who'll no doubt show up in other TV shows and movies down the line. For example, Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner, a Green Lantern and member of the Justice Gang in 'Superman,' will also play a role in the upcoming HBO Max series 'Lanterns.' Now that 'Superman' is a runaway hit after its big first weekend ($122 million at the domestic box office), here's a rundown of what's to come in the first 'chapter' of Gunn's DCU, labeled 'Gods and Monsters.' John Cena returns as Peacemaker this summer Played by John Cena, the antiheroic Peacemaker first appeared in Gunn's 2021 movie 'The Suicide Squad' and then was seen in the 2022 'Peacemaker' TV series. Season 2 of the HBO Max show premieres Aug. 21 and features not only Cena's character but also Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo), a military man from 'Creature Commandos' whose son was killed by Peacemaker. So there's probably revenge on his mind. The 'Peacemaker' trailer also teased an appearance from the Justice Gang, a supergroup featuring Gardner, Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi) and Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) that appeared in 'Superman" and is bankrolled by billionaire Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn). Expect more intel to come out of the show's Comic-Con panel on July 25. Milly Alcock flies as 'Supergirl' in 2026 One of the bigger cameos in 'Superman' was Milly Alcock's first appearance as Supes' cousin Kara, who drops by somewhat inebriated to pick up her pup Krypto. She will be back on the big screen next summer in 'Supergirl' (in theaters June 26, 2026), a cosmic adventure/revenge quest that will mark Jason Momoa's debut as the fan-favorite alien bounty hunter Lobo. The film is based on the comic book 'Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow,' and Alcock matched Gunn's vision for a 'pixie-ish, punk rock' version of the character, he tells USA TODAY. 'It's like this sort of drunken sorority girl Supergirl who's just also really tough. And it's the Supergirl that I always wanted to see that I never knew I wanted to see.' 'Lanterns' kicks off a new slate of DC TV shows Expected to premiere on HBO early next year, 'Lanterns' is a eight-episode series that will feature members of the intergalactic Green Lantern Corps investigating a murder on Earth. Kyle Chandler plays Green Lantern veteran Hal Jordan, Aaron Pierre is rookie John Stewart, and Fillion will reprise his role as the brash Guy Gardner. Other shows in development include 'Waller,' a series with Viola Davis back as Suicide Squad head Amanda Waller, and 'Paradise Lost,' a drama set on the Amazons' island of Themyscira before Wonder Woman's birth. The comedy 'Booster Gold' will feature the time-traveling hero from the future, and also in the works is a 'Blue Beetle' animated series (with Xolo Maridueña reprising his 2023 movie role) and a second season of 'Creature Commandos.' More DC movies are on the way – maybe 'Superman 2'? 'Clayface,' a horror movie centered on the Batman villain, has a release date (Sept. 11, 2026), a director ('Speak No Evil' filmmaker James Watkins) and a star (Tom Rhys Harries). And if you've got a Dark Knight baddie, you need a Dark Knight, though Gunn hasn't cast a Caped Crusader yet for 'The Brave and the Bold.' That will feature Batman (one different from Robert Pattinson's take on the character in 'The Batman' world) as well as son/sidekick Damian Wayne (aka Robin). The DC braintrust also is in need of a new Wonder Woman for her film, one of many in development including 'The Authority,' Luca Guadagnino's 'Sgt. Rock' and James Mangold's 'Swamp Thing.' But don't forget the Man of Steel: David Corenswet has said he's already signed on for another movie, a no-brainer considering the enthusiastic reception for the new movie.
Geek Tyrant
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
James Gunn Says the New DCU Isn't About One Long Story, It's About Building a Universe — GeekTyrant
James Gunn's Superman might kick off a new era for DC Studios, but don't expect it to operate like a domino in a long, interconnected chain. Despite featuring iconic characters like Green Lantern's Guy Gardner and Hawkgirl, the film isn't weighed down by future setups or endless teases for what's next. GamesRadar+ sat down with Gunn in London ahead of Superman's July 11 release, and the director made it clear that the DCU isn't about forcing every story into one giant puzzle. 'In terms of the DCU in general, I want the movies and the TV shows to be mostly self-contained. I don't want everything to have to lean on each other. I don't think of this so much as one long story where everybody has to take in every little piece. 'I think of this as creating a universe, and then people are able to jump in and tell little pieces of the story from all around that universe.' That's a notable departure from the interconnected model popularized by Marvel Studios. Gunn isn't interested in homework-based viewing where every installment is required reading. Instead, he's building a sandbox where creators can tell their own stories within a shared, but not tethered, world. Still, some projects will connect, just not all. 'There will be some connected stories throughout the time. In fact, Peacemaker season 2 is very connected to Superman. But it doesn't need to be that way, and I want people to be able to enjoy any specific piece of entertainment by itself.' Starring David Corenswet as Clark Kent, with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult taking on Lex Luthor, Superman serves as the first major theatrical step into Gunn and co-CEO Peter Safran's Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. But it's not just a springboard, it's a story with its own voice, rhythm, and destination. So yes, Superman introduces a bigger DC world, but it's not a trailer for future movies. It's a complete experience. And that might be the most refreshing thing about it.
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Superman star Nathan Fillion defends his character's haircut after fan uproar on social media
Nathan Fillion , the Superman star, has defended his character's iconic hairstyle in the movie after his look faced criticism from fans. The actor plays the DC Comics character Guy Gardner , a law enforcer who is also the Green Lantern, in the new Superman film, which was released on Friday, July 11, 2025. He plays the role of a superhero who derives powers from his sparkling green ring. Fillion wears a blonde bowl cut wig. As various teasers and trailers were released ahead of the film's release, viewers and fans have said that they don't like this hairstyle. The 'Rookie' actor, however, has now come out in defense of the haircut. He told CNN that the look is 'canon' to the original character in the DC Comics. 'I don't think you can do a Guy Gardner without doing the hair. I think it would be a disservice,' he said. ''Ummm, Guy Gardner is meant to look dumb with the bowl cut,' I don't care it still looks dumb,' one wrote in December 2024, according to Independent. While another wrote on X at the time: 'Hyped for Nathan Fillion as a Lantern, but a bowl cut?' 'Wtf happened to Green Lantern. Why is his haircut so ridiculous?' a third wrote in May. Many people, however, agreed that the bowl cut was a big part of Fillion's character. 'Guy Gardner's Green Lantern looks terrible in the exact way he should. Comic accurate,' one wrote on X in December 2024. In an episode of HBO Max's DC Studios Showcase Official Podcast in May 2025, Fillion said that the hairstyle of his character was discussed before the movie was filmed. He, however, ultimately pushed for Gardner to have the bowl cut. Live Events 'There was some talk about some different types of things we were going to go,' he said. 'I was team bowl cut the whole way. It's canon. It's set. I said, 'If we don't do a bowl cut, we're going to hear about it,' he added.'
New Indian Express
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Dean Cain calls out James Gunn for calling Superman an 'immigrant'
Former Superman star Dean Cain has come out strongly against filmmaker James Gunn for his recent remarks about the superhero. The actor, known for portraying the iconic DC Comics character in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, described Gunn as "woke" for calling the character an "immigrant". Cain compared DC Studios adapting Superman to modern times with Disney's recent Snow White remake. "Why are they going to change these characters (to) exist for the times?" asked Cain. The actor's comments come shortly after Gunn described Superman as America's story, which bats for "basic human kindness" at a time when the idea itself has lost its meaning. Meanwhile, the filmmaker's brother Sean Gunn, playing Maxwell Lord in Superman, supported him and underscored the vital part that immigrants play in American society. The actor stated, "The people that we support in this country are immigrants and if you don't like that, you're not American." While Cain agreed with the notion about Superman being an immigrant, he argued that the USA has certain rules and policies in relation to immigration for a reason. According to the actor, the country cannot let in every foreigner because otherwise, "society will fail". He went on to suggest that, if not for these rules, it would be similar to Somalia. Conservatives in the USA seemingly believe that progressive social agendas have diluted Superman, moving it away from his classic heroic archetype and associating it with undesirable elements, such as the superimposition of 'MS-13' on the superhero suit. Besides James and Sean Gunn, actor Nathan Fillion, who plays Guy Gardner (Green Lantern) in Superman, also tried to defuse the controversy, terming it "just a movie".
