Every Live-Action Green Lantern Suit of the Last 30 Years, Ranked

Green Lantern has always been tough to get right in live action. Over the last 30 years, six Lanterns have suited up on screen. This includes Matthew Settle’s Guy Gardner in a 1997 CBS television film, Ryan Reynolds‘ Hal Jordan in the unsuccessful Green Lantern film of 2011, and Kyle Chandler‘s Hal Jordan and Nathan Fillion‘s Guy Gardner in James Gunn’s current DCU run.

Besides these Lanterns, several characters from the Lantern Corps cosmic universe appeared in several DC live-action projects. Kilowog’s appearance in Zack Snyder’s Justice League is too quick to make any commentary on the suit, and Aaron Pierre‘s John Stewart is yet to suit up. Here are the Green Lantern suits from the last 30 years, ranked based on how they compare to the comics.

6 Yalan Gur’s Ancient Armor Vanished Before Anyone Noticed

Yalan Gur appeared in Wonder Woman’s ‘History Lesson’ flashback in Justice League, fighting alongside Amazons, Atlanteans, and humans against Steppenwolf. Zack Snyder’s Justice League gave him slightly more screen time, showing him battling Darkseid.

He’s an imposing alien warrior who looks more like an ancient soldier than a superhero, which suits a Lantern from thousands of years ago. It matches Zack Snyder‘s mythical tone well. The problem is that he’s barely on screen.

He’s a fully CGI character seen in only a few quick shots before he’s struck down. Many viewers didn’t even realize he was a Green Lantern until fans identified him online. A suit nobody gets a proper look at can’t rank anywhere but last.

5 Matthew Settle’s Guy Gardner Suit Is Pure ’90s TV

Long before Nathan Fillion, Matthew Settle played Guy Gardner in Justice League of America, a CBS pilot that never became a series. His costume borrowed heavily from Kyle Rayner’s ’90s comic look, with a blue-and-black design and a small eye mask. Guy never wears a mask in the comics.

On a TV budget, the result looked exactly like what it was. The spandex suit was stiff, shiny, and far from heroic, and the cheesy tone of the pilot and the film didn’t help. It ranks below the others because of how comically inaccurate this version of Guy was.

4 Ryan Reynolds’ CGI Suit Was a Glowing Mistake

Ryan Reynolds’ Hal Jordan in 2011’s Green Lantern wore a suit made entirely of CGI. The idea was that the costume was pure energy created by the ring. On screen, it covered Reynolds in glowing green lines, rubbery muscle patterns, and even a digital mask. The same was the case for other Lanterns in the movie, including Mark Strong‘s Sinestro and Temuera Morrison‘s Abin Sur.

In theory, it was a bold idea. In practice, it rarely looked real. The suit often seemed to float on top of Reynolds instead of being part of him, and it aged badly. Even Reynolds has joked about the film since. It beats Settle’s suit only because of its big-budget ambition and full-blown screen time. But it never felt like something a real hero could wear, which keeps it in the bottom half.

3 Wayne T. Carr’s John Stewart Is a Great Suit We Never Saw

Wayne T. Carr was set to play John Stewart in the epilogue of Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Snyder even shot the scene in his own driveway. However, Warner Bros. asked him to remove it, and Martian Manhunter took Stewart’s place instead. Fans only got to see the suit through photos Snyder and Carr shared on socials.

Built with CGI, the design was sleek and grown-up, and it looked like a perfect fit for a soldier-turned-space cop. It ranks third because it looked fantastic in stills. Since it never actually appeared in the film, it’s impossible to place it above the suits fans saw in action.

2 Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan Suit Tells a Story but Divides Fans

Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan made his debut in HBO’s Lanterns, and his suit sparked plenty of debate. In the present day, it’s faded and mostly brown, with only hints of green. Hal barely wears it, reflecting how tired and disillusioned he has become. Flashbacks show the suit as it looked when Hal first became Earth’s Green Lantern, cleaner, bolder, and proudly carrying the Corps symbol on the chest.

That contrast is clever storytelling, and it’s a real physical costume that looks like it has survived decades of missions. But many fans were disappointed by how little green it has, especially from the series’ first trailer. That pushback keeps it just short of the top spot.

1 Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner Suit Is Perfectly Guy

Nathan Fillion made his debut as Guy Gardner in James Gunn’s Superman, and later popped up in Peacemaker Season 2. His suit is mostly white with green details, and it even carries a LordTech logo, since his Justice Gang is funded by billionaire Maxwell Lord. Fans weren’t sure about it at first, but it quickly won them over.

Guy is loud, cocky, and a little ridiculous, and his corporate-sponsored suit reflects that perfectly. Add the famous bowl cut, and he’s instantly recognizable. It’s a practical, well-made costume that looks great in action and fits the character’s personality to a T. It’s the rare live-action Lantern suit that most fans have warmed up to, making it the clear winner.

Which live-action Green Lantern suit is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!