James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe is reportedly considering Matthew McConaughey and Ewan McGregor for the role of Hal Jordan / Green Lantern. However, Josh Brolin purportedly remains the top pick for the character in the upcoming Lanterns series.
James Gunn’s Green Lantern could allegedly cast Matthew McConaughey or Ewan McGregor
As per industry scooper Jeff Sneider, Matthew McConaughey and Ewan McGregor might play Hal Jordan in the upcoming Lanterns series, if Brolin decides to pass on the role. This report surfaced a few days after the scoopers mentioned that the DCU was courting Brolin. All three actors are decorated stalwarts of the field who have navigated various genres with ease. If the report about McConaughey and McGregor is accurate, it reinforces James Gunn’s previous sentiment, asserting that the Lantern content was “important” in the DCU.
McConaughey, who won the Academy Award for Best Actor for portraying Ron Woodroof in Dallas Buyers Club (2013), has expressed interest in appearing in a comic book movie multiple times over the years. In 2015, he told Variety that he had read both Marvel and DC scripts and was open to playing a comic book character.
“I’ve read some Marvel and DC scripts and I’ve talked about working with them on some scripts,” the Interstellar actor said. “Yeah, I’ve circled some of those. Nothing has been right for me yet. But I’m sure open to it,” he added.
So, if McConaughey does end up getting the role, it will be his first comic book project depicting one of the main characters. Previously, McConaughey made a brief, faceless cameo as Cowboypool, a variant of Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool, in the 2024 superhero blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine.
On the other hand, Primetime Emmy Award-winner Ewan McGregor has appeared in another DC project. He essayed the role of Black Mask in the 2020 film Birds of Prey. As Birds of Prey was part of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), McGregor can potentially play a completely different character in the DCU without causing continuity issues.
