Is something wrong with Guy Gardner? Nathan Fillion reveals where he drew inspiration from to play the Green Lantern in the upcoming Superman film.
Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner has stood out like a sore thumb in the lead up to Superman. The character is certainly a fan-favorite, with at least some of those fans warming up to Fillion taking on the role. However, one can’t deny that the Green Lantern feels notably…off when compared to some of the other characters in the film. Especially those in the Justice Gang alongside him!
Shockingly, there may be a lore reason as to why Guy Gardner acts the way he does. When speaking on his role in Superman with the official DC Studios Showcase Podcast, Nathan Fillion revealed that he took inspiration from some of the Green Lantern’s earliest runs when signing on to play a character. This includes a shocking bus accident which the actor claims gave the character “brain damage”, causing him to act the way he does.
“Part of his origin was he was, at one point, hit by a bus and was in a coma. So I just say that’s the thing that flipped the switch. That’s the thing that caused a little bit of brain damage. Now he’s just…off a little bit.”
Nathan Fillion’s Inspirations For Guy Gardner
Brain damage seemingly wasn’t the only inspiration behind how Nathan Fillion played Guy Gardner. The Green Lantern was also molded through the influence of classic sitcoms. Specifically, Fillion seemed to take inspiration from The Golden Girls star Estelle Getty. Her portrayal of Sophia Petrillo seemed to form the basis of Guy always speaking his mind in Superman.
“You know, I took my inspiration from the oldest cast member from [The] Golden Girls, where she just, whatever she wanted to say, just there was no filter. Just whatever it is. There it is. He’s just gonna say it.”
While certainly odd places to pull inspiration from, it seems as though it worked. Nathan Fillion has managed to capture the bravado and bullheadedness of Guy Gardner in every clip fans have seen from him in Superman. Likely, the actor will continue to play the character for a long time in the DC Universe, especially as the Green Lantern Corps get a larger presence.
Superman is currently scheduled to hit theaters on July 11, 2025. Stay tuned for the latest news regarding the future of the DC Universe and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content!
