Nathan Fillion Unpacks Guy Gardner’s ‘Lanterns’ Cameo: ‘What Took You So Long?’

Nathan Fillion, best known for his role as Guy Gardner in HBO's "Lanterns," discussed the character's recent appearance in James Gunn's "Superman" film. In the third act of the movie, Guy Gardner commented, "Sorry kid. Superman couldn’t make it, so you got an upgrade." Fillion revealed that this line cemented Guy Gardner's role as the perfect counterpart to Superman.

Guy Gardner, first introduced in "Green Lantern #59" in 1968, appeared in the HBO series "Lanterns" as John Stewart's replacement after the latter chose to leave the Green Lantern Corps. The character's presence in "Superman" was a result of John Stewart's decision, which Fillion explained as "an unpleasant thought, but not one that Guy can easily discount."

Despite his hotheadedness, Fillion explained that Guy Gardner sees himself as "very, very deserving" of his role in the Green Lantern Corps. He also suggested that Guy may be trying to monetize the Green Lantern name, as seen in his Batman-like signal and advertisements. This could explain his resentment towards John Stewart and Hal Jordan's actions in "Rushville" and his desire to open his own bar.

Filion also described Guy Gardner as "narcissistic," "egotistical," and "self-important," noting that he plays characters with these traits frequently. He acknowledged that Guy is not entirely likable, but he's not entirely unlikable either, allowing fans to enjoy disliking him. Guy Gardner has been a consistent character in Gunn's DCU projects, appearing in "Superman," "Peacemaker" Season 2, and a cameo in "Creature Commandos".

A distinctive aspect of Guy Gardner's character is his iconic ginger bowl cut, which Fillion mentioned is almost always present in his appearances. Fillion also highlighted the importance of maintaining consistency in Guy's portrayal across different projects, whether they are family-friendly or gritty dramas. Guy Gardner's role in "Lanterns" is expected to continue, with Fillion set to reprise the role in "Superman: Man of Tomorrow" in 2027.