DC Studios' James Gunn has addressed the rumor about the Green Lantern series planned for HBO Max within the DC Universe (DCU).
Superman isn't the only DC character who's been missing in action in recent years. The character who holds the crown for the longest wait just may be the Green Lantern.
Apart from Zack Snyder attempting to introduce a version of the Green Lantern in his cut of Justice League, the character hasn't been seen on screen for more than a decade - his last appearance coming in Ryan Reynolds' Green Lantern from 2011.
While fans will have to wait a little longer for a big-screen story, a Greg Berlanti series focused on the intergalactic hero was reportedly in the works for HBO Max.
However, in the wake of retools and budget reports, new rumors suggested that the series had been scrapped, especially since it was greenlit before Peter Safran and James Gunn were tapped to reboot the DCU.
To set the record straight, James Gunn has taken to Twitter to confirm the Green Lantern's fate.
James Gunn Debunks Green Lantern Claim
In response to the claim that the Green Lantern series planned for HBO Max has been axed, as well as the rumor that James Gunn has big screen plans for the character, the newly crowned co-CEO shut down the speculation with the following Tweet:
"Fake."
Andy Behbakht corroborated Gunn's response, confirming that the series is "still in development:"
"Yeah I can go ahead and debunk this already as I was in communication with HBO Max and WBTV last week about the Green Lantern TV show: there have not been any changes made as the show is still in development."
This clarification comes on the heels of reports that the series had shuffled writers and switched the focus to John Stewart as opposed to Alan Scott and Guy Gardner.
As a result, Fitt Wittrock and Jeremy Irvine, who had been cast to play Gardner and Scott respectively, are no longer attached to the series.
More Changes in Store for HBO Max's Green Lantern?
While Green Lantern appears to be safe for now, it's not out of the woods just yet.
Since Gunn and Safran intend for all corners of their new DCU to connect, a side project independent of their vision doesn't quite fit the plan.
If it survives, it may be reenvisioned even more than it already has, which includes CEO David Zaslav cutting the show's impressive budget in pursuit of tax write-downs.
It's also worth noting that, despite the Green Lantern's newfound direction, the studio hasn't announced a release date or indicated when production will get underway.
So, even though the show hasn't been canceled for good, the evidence suggests that DC fans will have to wait a little longer for the Green Lantern's overdue return.
