Aaron Pierre on Lanterns and Why the Green Lantern Corps Is a ‘Beautiful Thing’

Aaron Pierre had quite a bit to say on DC Studios’ upcoming series, Lanterns. The actor opened up a bit about the series and how relatable it is. Look, we all know the drill by now. Superhero actors sit down for interviews, dodge every meaningful question like they’re Neo in The Matrix, and leave us with more blue balls than actual answers. But Aaron Pierre? The guy playing John Stewart in DC’s upcoming Lanterns series? He’s at least trying to throw us a bone here, even if Warner Bros. probably has a sniper trained on him from across the street.

Aaron Pierre Spills (Almost) Everything About DC’s Lanterns Series

In a recent chat with Esquire, Pierre opened up about what makes the Green Lantern Corps tick, and honestly, his insights might actually save this franchise from becoming another Green Lantern movie disaster. Remember that Ryan Reynolds fever dream from 2011? Yeah, we’re all still recovering from that cosmic dumpster fire.

Here’s where things get interesting, and where Pierre might have accidentally stumbled onto something brilliant According to the actor, what makes the Lanterns compelling isn’t their ability to create giant green hammers out of thin air (though that’s pretty cool). It’s the fact that they’re gloriously, beautifully screwed up.

The actor said on Esquire, “One of the things that I love the most about the Lantern Corps is that, yes, they are heroes. Yes, they are celebrated and championed as such, but they embrace their flaws in a way that is beautiful. That makes them extremely relatable. We would often have this conversation on set.”

He added, “I feel like, knowing what I know and what we’ve done with this season, even if I wasn’t part of it, I would watch it and say, ‘I know those guys. In real life, I know those guys.’” Wait, superheroes with actual flaws that they don’t magically overcome in the third act? What is this, character development? In my DC universe? Revolutionary stuff, really.

The Human Side of Cosmic Cops

The Lanterns series has wrapped filming, which means we’re stuck in that torturous waiting period where we analyze every single promotional crumb like we’re decoding the Dead Sea Scrolls. But Pierre’s comments suggest that the show might actually understand what made the comics work in the first place. These aren’t perfect Boy Scouts in green spandex. They’re cosmic cops dealing with their own baggage while trying to police the universe.

John Stewart, in particular, has always been a more grounded character compared to some of his ring-slinging colleagues. He’s a Marine, an architect, someone who builds things up rather than just punching problems into submission. Geek Tyrant reported Pierre saying, “They do their best to redeem themselves actively, consciously. When you watch it, it almost makes you go, ‘You know what? If I can just figure out where to get my application, I could be in the Green Lantern Corps.”

The Lanterns series is shaping up to be something of a buddy cop show in space, following Hal Jordan as he trains John Stewart. Kyle Chandler is stepping into Hal’s boots, which is either inspired casting or setting up another opportunity for disappointment. The supporting cast includes heavy hitters like Nathan Fillion, Kelly Macdonald, and Laura Linney, so at least we know the acting won’t be the weak link.

But here’s the thing that’s got me cautiously optimistic: the focus on character flaws and redemption. Too many superhero projects these days treat their protagonists like flawless gods who occasionally have sad feelings about their responsibilities. The best Lanterns stories have always been about people screwing up, learning from their mistakes, and trying to do better.

Final Thoughts

The Lanterns series represents a crucial test for DC’s television ambitions. After years of hit-or-miss adaptations, they need something that captures both the cosmic scope and emotional depth that makes these characters work. Pierre’s comments suggest they might actually understand the assignment this time.