A Ryan Reynolds cameo in Lanterns now has one enthusiastic volunteer: Ryan Reynolds. Fifteen years after his expensive, critically bruised turn as Hal Jordan, the actor says he would happily appear in HBO Max’s new DC series. There is just one small catch. Nobody involved with the show has publicly offered him a role.
Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, Reynolds gave a clear answer when asked about joining the series: “I would totally do a cameo in that. I love it.” The comment has sparked plenty of online casting theories, but as of September 3, HBO, DC Studios, James Gunn and the show’s producers have not confirmed negotiations or plans for an appearance.
Has Ryan Reynolds changed his mind about Green Lantern?
Reynolds’ enthusiasm marks a playful shift after years of treating 2011’s Green Lantern as premium joke material. The actor repeatedly mocked the film through his Deadpool franchise, most memorably in the end credits of Deadpool 2, where Wade Wilson takes drastic action against Reynolds’ earlier superhero choices.
James Gunn previously suggested that a conventional comeback was unlikely. In December 2022, he said Reynolds’ Green Lantern was “not a priority for me, let alone Ryan Reynolds.” Gunn later recalled jokingly proposing a return after taking charge of DC Studios with Peter Safran, only for Reynolds to reject the idea in characteristically colorful language.
Apparently, a cameo is a different proposition. Reynolds did not say he wanted to reclaim Hal Jordan, lead another franchise or squeeze back into the old digital suit. His brief answer leaves room for something smaller and more self-aware, which is very much his preferred superhero setting these days.
Could Reynolds actually return as Hal Jordan?
Spoilers for the Lanterns premiere follow.
Kyle Chandler plays the DC Universe’s Hal Jordan, alongside Aaron Pierre as John Stewart. Their story follows the two Green Lanterns through a murder investigation in the American heartland, with much of the mystery unfolding in 2016.
The premiere then jumps to 2026 and reveals that Chandler’s Hal is dead. Writer Tom King called that development the creative team’s “most controversial idea,” according to TechRadar. It also creates a rather large continuity problem for anyone hoping to see two Hals exchange knowing looks.
Reynolds could theoretically appear in a flashback, alternate reality, voice role or self-parodying bit, but those ideas remain fan speculation. Nothing verified indicates that the production has designed a part for him, as Hal or anyone else.
The wider cast includes Kelly Macdonald, while Nathan Fillion reprises his DC Universe role as Guy Gardner. Fillion’s involvement also means Lanterns is not the new franchise’s first live-action sighting of a Green Lantern, though the series is its first major exploration of the Corps and its mythology.
Why the 2011 movie still follows Reynolds
Warner Bros. originally intended Green Lantern to launch a larger superhero franchise. Instead, the film arrived with a reported $200 million production budget and earned $237.2 million worldwide. That total was only about 1.19 times its budget before marketing costs and cinemas took their share, leaving little appetite for a sequel.
Critics were similarly unimpressed, and the planned franchise quickly disappeared. Reynolds moved on to the far more successful Deadpool films, where his failed DC adventure became part of the comedy rather than something hidden in a studio vault.
Still, the movie delivered one major success away from the box office. Reynolds starred opposite Blake Lively, who played Carol Ferris. They met while making the film and married in 2012. For all his public teasing, Green Lantern remains tied to a pivotal chapter of his personal life.
That history gives a potential cameo more weight than a routine celebrity drop-in. It could acknowledge the film’s messy legacy, Reynolds’ long-running jokes and Hollywood’s habit of recycling superhero history, all without asking him to replace Chandler.
Would a cameo fit the new series?
Lanterns is taking a more grounded route than Reynolds’ glossy 2011 adventure. Its eight-episode season premiered August 16, 2026, and runs weekly through October 4. Early critical reaction has split sharply: Rotten Tomatoes’ review summary highlighted broad praise for the crime-mystery approach, while The Guardian dismissed the series as “a bust.”
A Reynolds appearance could bring a quick jolt of meta comedy, but it would need to suit that darker tone. His work in Deadpool & Wolverine showed how comfortably he can turn old casting choices and superhero nostalgia into entertainment. Even so, Lanterns is building its own continuity, and its premiere has already made Hal Jordan’s legacy a serious part of the plot.
For now, the situation is simple. Reynolds is interested, fans are speculating and DC Studios is silent. The old Green Lantern has raised his hand, but nobody has issued the ring.
