Chris Mundy, co-creator of the HBO series Lanterns, has revealed that the show nearly brought in members of the Green Lantern Corps to save the day. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Mundy confirmed that the Red Lanterns, the Star Sapphires, and other differently colored power ring users were never considered for the show’s first season. But he admitted the writers did plan a scene where extra Green Lantern reinforcements would arrive when Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) were fighting in the war zone of Rushville.
“We had a scene in the writers’ room in our heads where that darkness was still encroaching on the town, and various other Lanterns in the Corps came and blew it away.”
The scene was ultimately cut because it pulled focus from the main characters.
What Mundy Said About the Cut Scene
Mundy explained the decision during an interview with Entertainment Weekly. He said the scene in question referenced events from the fifth episode, where the darkness was still spreading over the town. Other Lanterns in the Corps would have arrived and cleared it away. But the writers decided against it.
“It was the one time we would’ve seen the others, but we ended up not doing it just because it pulled focus from our guys at that point,” Mundy said.
The scene was a moment in the writers’ room, not a finished script. It existed as an idea, not a shot on screen. Mundy’s admission is a small but honest peek behind the curtain of television writing.
Who Else Shows Up in the Show
The show does feature other Green Lantern characters beyond Hal and John. Sinestro (Ulrich Thomsen) appears as an ex-Lantern, and Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) shows up as a replacement Green Lantern. Both characters appear in the story, though they are not the central focus.
Other ring-slingers like the “squirrel” Ch’p and the living planet Mogo are only mentioned by name. They do not appear on screen.
What the Future Holds
Lanterns ended its first season with John blackmailing the Guardians of Oa to keep Hal’s old ring and operate independently on Earth. Guy Gardner will continue to patrol Sector 2814, while John handles alien detective work on the ground. A second season has not been confirmed, but Mundy teased that the show’s grounded tone will continue.
“We obviously left the planet, so that’s in our wheelhouse, but we like the idea of the show being very grounded,” Mundy explained. “It’s a little more tactile ‘of this earth,’ ‘of this world’ kind of thing.”
For fans hoping the show might get more space operatic, Mundy suggested revisiting the cult classic Green Lantern: The Animated Series. But he also hasn’t ruled out extraterrestrial adventures entirely.
“We’ve proven that we can sneak in other stuff, too, if the story warrants it,” Mundy said.
When appearing on The Midnight Boys podcast, Mundy said the writers’ room was interested in tackling more alien Lanterns. “[Writer Vanessa Baden Kelly’s] been talking a big Kilowog game for a long time,” he revealed.
The Grounded Approach
Mundy’s comments suggest the show will remain focused on Earth. The writers want the story to feel tangible, rooted in the world around the characters rather than drifting off into distant galaxies.
That approach worked for the first season. The show kept its focus on Hal and John, and the supporting characters who appeared were tied directly to their story.
Whether Lanterns continues beyond its first eight episodes is unknown. But Mundy’s comments about Kilowog and the other Lanterns suggest the writers are thinking about the future. The characters are set to return in James Gunn’s upcoming Man of Tomorrow, with Aaron Pierre and Nathan Fillion reprising their roles.
The show has already proven it can sneak in other stuff when it wants to. Whether that means Kilowog or another Lantern remains to be seen. For now, the story stays grounded.
Source material: “Lanterns Nearly Brought In Members Of The Green Lantern Corps For One Major Scene,” TVLine.
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