Every Live-Action Version Of Green Lantern, Ranked

The Green Lantern is not only recognized as one of DC Comics’ most emblematic superheroes; he also boasts immense power. Equipped with his Green Lantern ring, this hero has the ability to materialize whatever thoughts he conjures up in his mind, enabling him to fly, battle, and protect the world on par with the greatest heroes around.

As a dedicated fan, I’m thrilled about HBO’s upcoming series “Lanterns” promising an immersive exploration of the Green Lantern lore within the new DC Universe. While comic book enthusiasts like me have had numerous chances to connect with these iconic characters since the 1940s, the Green Lantern remains one of the most intriguing and complex heroes in the realm of comics. His power to manifest anything he can imagine makes him a challenge for adaptations. Despite the numerous outstanding interpretations of the character in DC animated productions, his live-action appearances have been scarce. I can’t wait to see how this series brings the Green Lantern to life on the small screen!

You probably remember the flop movie “Green Lantern” released in 2011, but there might be other interpretations of this character that you haven’t encountered before. We’re going to explore different adaptations to determine which ones provide the best story and give us a better understanding of this popular character, based on Rotten Tomatoes ratings, fan discussions on Reddit, and our personal observations. From the most authentic to the downright awkward, we’ll rank every live-action version of Green Lantern in order.

9. Justice League of America

Even die-hard DC fans might have overlooked this forgotten fragment of television lore. Back in December 1997, a pilot episode for a superhero TV series titled ‘Justice League of America’ aired as a movie on TV. Unfortunately, the pilot didn’t create enough excitement to transform ‘Justice League of America’ into an ongoing series. However, it did offer a brief sneak peek at what the renowned Green Lantern might appear like in a live-action adaptation for those comic book enthusiasts fortunate enough to catch it on television.

In this film adaptation of the Justice League, we have The Flash (Kenny Johnston), Fire (Michelle Hurd), Ice (Kimberly Oja), The Atom (John Kassir), Martian Manhunter (David Ogden Stiers), and Green Lantern (Matthew Seattle) as members. Interestingly, the comic book powerhouses like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman were conspicuously absent from the team. Unfortunately, the Justice League didn’t engage in a grand confrontation in the movie due to their villain being an ominous meteorologist known as The Weatherman.

As a devoted fan, if I were to stumble upon the online version of “Justice League of America”, I’d notice that the Green Lantern isn’t exactly true to the comic book counterpart. His costume and mask, frankly, have a goofy vibe. Seattle gets the honor of playing Guy Gardner in live action for the first time, but given the pilot’s poor response, it’s unlikely anyone would argue that he nailed the character as perfectly as Nathan Fillion does in James Gunn’s “Superman.

8. Legends of the Superheroes

For the very first time, DC fans witnessed Green Lantern in live action back in 1979, during a two-part TV special titled “Legends of the Superheroes”. This family-friendly event showcased some of the most well-known characters from the DC Comics universe. In this production, Hal Jordan’s Green Lantern was portrayed by Howard Murphy donning black and green spandex. Although Green Lantern doesn’t have a significant role in the special, he does engage in a battle against a notorious comic book villain: Sinestro, played by Charlie Callas.

Regrettably, “Legends of the Superheroes” may not fully showcase Green Lantern’s abilities as intended by fans, given that ’70s special effects were limited in depicting his powers accurately. Consequently, the character is often humorously portrayed instead. Initially, in this special, Green Lantern and other heroes combat genuine supervillains during the first half. However, in the second part, they participate in a roast hosted by celebrities. It’s an unusual special, but IMDb users have rated it 5.4 stars, suggesting that there could be aspects for fans to appreciate.

7. Smallville

If you’re a fan of Superman, chances are you’ve heard about “Smallville” before. This TV series started airing back in 2001, lasting for a total of 10 seasons and over 200 episodes. The show revolves around Clark Kent, portrayed by Tom Welling, as he develops his superpowers in his small hometown. “Smallville” is undeniably one of the best live-action adaptations of Superman’s tale ever made.

The narrative arc of “Smallville” spans from Clark Kent’s youth to the commencement of his professional life as Superman. Along this journey, the series introduces several well-known DC superheroes, with Green Lantern being one of them due to a technicality. In the ninth season, during a two-part episode that was later released as a TV movie titled “Absolute Justice,” Green Lantern made a brief appearance, played by Doug Pinton. This unique episode offered viewers a glimpse into Alan Scott, the original Green Lantern from the Golden Age DC comics of the 1940s, even showing his vintage Green Lantern ring.

As a devoted fan, I must admit my disappointment that we didn’t get to witness this rendition of Green Lantern wield his powers or delve into his character depth. However, he does seem significantly linked to the captivating backstory of the Justice Society of America, which undeniably plays a crucial role in the narrative. The quality of the story and the show itself has elevated this Green Lantern slightly higher on my personal ranking.

6. Stargirl

As a dedicated fan, I’m totally hooked on “Stargirl,” the live-action DC series, just like I was with Smallville. This show offers a tantalizing glimpse of Alan Scott, the Green Lantern from the Golden Age. The story revolves around Courtney Whitmore (played by Brec Bassinger), a teenager whose world is flipped when her mom remarries and the family relocates from sunny California to Nebraska.

Things seem pretty dull for Courtney in her new life until she stumbles upon an unexpected truth: her stepdad was once a superhero’s sidekick! And in an incredible twist, a mystical staff grants her powers and transforms her into the hero we know as Stargirl.

In contrast to “Smallville,” where Green Lantern is introduced only after nine seasons, “Stargirl” immediately references him in its opening flashback. This battle between Justice Society of America and Injustice Society of America hints at the possible demise of Alan Scott (Green Lantern) and the near-destruction of the JSA. However, the Alan Scott character doesn’t receive significant screen time in “Stargirl,” unlike the positive reception it gained compared to “Smallville.

The series shines a light on Jade, an under-the-radar DC character who made her debut in the 1980s. Jennie-Lynn Hayden, played by Ysa Penarejo, is the daughter of a well-known Green Lantern. Although she doesn’t assume the title herself, she takes on heroic duties and eventually gains control over her father’s ring.

5. Arrow

If you stopped watching “Arrow” before its conclusion, you could have missed the depiction of Green Lantern within the extended series. The Green Lantern’s role in the world remains one of the major unresolved plot points from the final episode of “Arrow.” Interestingly, the fact that his story is subtly suggested makes this version of the character more intriguing compared to others on the list.

In the TV show “Arrow,” John Diggle, portrayed by David Ramsey, is introduced as an original character in the first episode and plays a significant role in Oliver Queen’s (Stephen Amell) team throughout the series. The show subtly suggests that Diggle may one day emulate the Green Lantern character, John Stewart, from the comics. In the series finale, we observe Diggle opening a glowing green box; however, he doesn’t put on a Green Lantern suit, use his powers, or wear his ring. Despite this, given his strong presence within the Arrowverse, he merits inclusion on our list as a potential future Green Lantern.

4. Zack Snyder’s Justice League

Viewers have been eagerly anticipating “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” for quite some time, and at long last, they were treated to what appears to be the definitive portrayal of DC Extended Universe’s superhero team. Although Green Lantern isn’t officially a member of the Justice League in the movie, we do gain insight into the Lantern Corps’ crucial role in defending Earth against Darkseid (played by Ray Porter). The film includes an extended flashback scene depicting a thrilling battle between Darkseid’s forces and Earth’s defenders, where an alien Green Lantern employs his powers to break through the waves of adversaries.

In “Zack Snyder’s Justice League,” the epic battle between Green Lantern and other iconic characters is undoubtedly one of the standout moments. This scene, though visually stunning thanks to some excellent CGI, doesn’t quite elevate Green Lantern to the number one spot among live-action Green Lantern fight scenes. Despite the movie’s rich character development, Green Lantern himself remains underdeveloped. For diehard fans of the character, this brief appearance is thrilling, but those seeking extensive Green Lantern action might find the rest of the film less engaging.

3. Green Lantern

Without a doubt, it’s common knowledge that the 2011 film “Green Lantern” isn’t particularly good. The movie has a low approval rating of 25% on Rotten Tomatoes and flopped at the box office. In fact, Ryan Reynolds, who played the lead role, found it so unbearable that he struggled to watch it at the premiere. As he put it to The Independent, “It was bizarre… It wasn’t a feeling I wanted to experience again.” Since its release, “Green Lantern” has been a frequent target of jokes and often appears on lists of the worst comic book movies ever produced.

Although there have been other versions of Green Lantern on screen, the one portrayed by Ryan Reynolds in “Green Lantern” is widely considered among fans as one of the most compelling. Reynolds’ Hal Jordan offers a charismatic and engaging hero, even if his characterization deviates somewhat from the comics. The film allows for some creative applications of Green Lantern’s powers, albeit with less accuracy to the source material. Moreover, it introduces the Green Lantern Corps and develops the mythology in ways that few other live action projects have dared to attempt. Essentially, due to lacking serious competition for quite some time, “Green Lantern” remains the best live action adaptation of the character for over a decade.

2. Superman

James Gunn’s “Superman” marks the true origin point for the revamped DC Universe on screen, paving the way for various characters from the expansive DC universe such as Hawkgirl (Isabella Merced), Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), and Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan). In our assessment of “Superman,” we emphasized that the film’s captivating world-building, particularly in its richly diverse cast, stands out as one of its most impressive aspects. Each character in the narrative is given their own shining moment, and this rings particularly true for Nathan Fillion’s portrayal of Green Lantern.

In the film, Fillion takes on the role of Guy Gardner, a variant of Green Lantern that comic enthusiasts will swiftly identify, though he might not be as recognized by typical cinema-goers. Despite this, it takes Fillion only a short while to embody Guy’s character traits. He comes off as somewhat arrogant and self-absorbed, yet underneath his boastful exterior lies a strong desire to do good and honor the Green Lantern oath. While it’s amusing when Guy insists on naming his superhero team “The Justice Gang,” it becomes clear that he cares more about protecting his fellow superheroes and the public at large than seeking fame and recognition.

In this film, Fillion’s performance elevates him to the pinnacle of our list of live-action Green Lantern performances. The possibility of seeing this character portrayal again adds an extra layer of appeal, making it more effortless to become invested in him.

1. The best Green Lantern wasn’t live action

Although Green Lantern is well-known within the comic book world, there have been limited live action adaptations featuring this character. Despite being part of more than several versions, Green Lantern often plays a minor role with little more than a prominent appearance rather than a leading one. He usually appears in the periphery of bigger narratives and has had significant screen time only on rare occasions.

In contrast to Green Lantern in animation, there’s an abundance of impressive interpretations and some even feature renowned actors. As the initial reactions to “Superman” emerge, it’s becoming clear that Nathan Fillion is ideally cast as Guy Gardner. Fortunately, fans have the opportunity to explore his portrayal of Hal Jordan across various DC animated productions.

Among the various animated series featuring Green Lantern characters, one stands out as particularly noteworthy. The Green Lantern from Bruce Timm’s “Justice League” show is often compared to the excellence of “Batman: The Animated Series.” Phil LaMarr portrays John Stewart, the Green Lantern in this continuity, and his performances are captivating throughout each episode. For those seeking more Green Lantern adventures, any of the animated shows or films would be a great starting point. However, if you’re looking for the finest Green Lantern of them all, then I highly recommend watching LaMarr’s portrayal in “Justice League” and “Justice League Unlimited.

2025-07-11 13:31