TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner is quickly becoming one of the most recognizable recurring characters in James Gunn’s new DC Universe.
The actor first appeared as the sarcastic Green Lantern in Gunn’s Superman, where Gardner was introduced as a member of the Justice Gang, a group of superheroes working under businessman Maxwell Lord. Despite his abrasive personality, Gardner ultimately helps Superman during a critical moment.
Since then, Fillion has continued to expand his role in the DC Universe. He appeared in the second season of Peacemakerand is set to return in HBO’s Lanterns, which stars Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart.
But Fillion’s next appearance will take the character into a different medium.
Fillion to Return as Guy Gardner in Mister Miracle
Tom King, the writer and showrunner behind Mister Miracle, confirmed to Entertainment Weekly that Fillion will reprise Guy Gardner in the upcoming animated series.
King said Fillion’s larger-than-life performance as Gardner fits the character regardless of whether he appears in live action or animation.
“We brought Nathan into Mister Miracle’s show, and doing that, it’s just so wonderful. He brings that energy to every aspect of it. And you would think it would be different tonally from [Lanterns], but it blends because that’s who Guy is. He’s that guy who is over the top. We all know that guy who’s a little bit like that.”
The casting also follows DC Studios’ approach of having actors reprise their characters across different formats. Creature Commandos, the first animated series set in Gunn’s DC Universe, similarly featured actors from the live-action DCU.
For Fillion, the animated role is not unfamiliar territory. Before he was cast as Guy Gardner, he voiced another version of Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, in several DC animated movies, including Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox and The Death of Superman.
Could Guy Gardner Help Build the Justice League International?
Fillion’s growing presence across DC projects could also point to a larger role for Guy Gardner in the developing universe.
In DC Comics, Gardner was a prominent member of the Justice League International, alongside characters including Mister Miracle, Blue Beetle and Booster Gold. Maxwell Lord was also closely associated with the team and served as its founder.
That connection could be particularly relevant in Gunn’s DC Universe. Sean Gunn’s Maxwell Lord is already established as the businessman behind the Justice Gang in Superman, while Gardner will now appear in Mister Miracle.
Rather than immediately building a traditional Justice League, DC Studios could potentially use these characters to develop a version of the Justice League International.
For now, Fillion’s Gardner is set to appear in Lanterns and Mister Miracle, with another appearance planned in Man of Tomorrow. His expanding presence suggests that the loudmouthed Green Lantern may become a much bigger part of the DC Universe than his introduction in Superman initially suggested.
