I’m Glad James Gunn Just Debunked A Major DCU Casting Rumor, As I’m Convinced The Actor Would Be Better For Another Hero Role

James Gunn sH๏τ down a major DCU casting rumor that linked the upcoming Lanterns show to none other than Oliver Queen a.k.a. Green Arrow. As the DCU’s Gods and Monsters chapter takes shape, dozens of characters get confirmed for upcoming movies and shows, and a wide variety of actors join the franchise in diverse roles. DC Studios has confirmed the introduction of lesser-known characters like The Authority and often overlooked figures like Lobo. Meanwhile, major names like the Flash and Wonder Woman remain up in the air.

The DCEU and the Arrowverse gave several characters their time in the spotlight. Heroes such as Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Shazam starred in multiple solo movies and crossovers in the DC Extended Universe, while others like Green Arrow and the Flash were the center of their whole franchise in the Arrowverse. Given their significant screentime in previous movies and shows, the DCU may wait a while before introducing new versions of these characters, but their return to the big and the small screen seems almost inevitable.

James Gunn Has Debunked Garret Lee Dillahunt Being Green Arrow

The DCU’s Green Arrow Remains Unconfirmed

In April 2025, actor Garret Lee Dillahunt posted a picture of himself sporting a Green Arrow mask, hood, and beard, as well as a mockup storyboard of himself as the Emerald Archer. Naturally, Dillahunt’s Instagram post sparked speculation about his potential casting in the DCU. Given the large number of characters that have joined James Gunn’s franchise in the past few months, it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for a hero as prominent as Green Arrow to be confirmed for a future project at this point.

However, when a fan asked James Gunn whether Garret Dillahunt was actually cast as the DCU’s Oliver Queen, Gunn confirmed Dillahunt’s Green Arrow post had nothing to do with the DCU. James Gunn limited his answer on Threads to a simple “haha no.” Soon after, Dillahunt himself took to Instagram to clarify he only meant his post to be an homage to the character, explaining his Green Arrow image was “just a Halloween costume” he posted as a fan of the character.

I Actually Think Garret Lee Dillahunt Would Be Even Better As A Different DCU Hero

Garret Lee Dillahunt Would Be A Great Rip Hunter In The DCU

Garret Dillahunt is part of the DCU’s Lanterns cast as a character named William Macon, described as “a self-righteous, conspiracy-minded man who masks his ruthless ambition behind a charming and calculated facade.” Dillahunt’s William Macon has no known DC Comics counterpart, meaning the DCU character could be either an original creation or the alias of a different DC character. If the latter scenario is true, a great option for William Macon’s true idenтιтy would be Rip Hunter — a time-traveling hero with connections to the Green Lanterns.

William Macon’s “conspiracy-minded” and “calculated facade” description fits quite well with Rip Hunter’s mysterious origin and his war against the Illuminati

Garret Dillahunt has played multiple intense and morally ambiguous characters in different genres. Dillahunt’s roles are often menacing, calculating, and rugged. For instance, The Sarah Connor Chronicles‘s John Henry and ᴅᴇᴀᴅwood‘s Francis Wolcott are both clever and cold-blooded, while Ty Walker is unpredictable and volatile in Justified. Since a big part of Rip Hunter’s comic book story is his fear of having time travel backfire on himself, William Macon’s “conspiracy-minded” and “calculated facade” description fits quite well with Rip Hunter’s mysterious origin and his war against the Illuminati.

Why The DC Universe Is Perfectly Set Up To Introduce Rip Hunter

Rip Hunter’s Closest Allies Are Already Confirmed For The DCU

James Gunn hasn’t announced any detail related to Green Arrow, but the DCU has already confirmed the introduction of several characters with connections to Rip Hunter. DC Studios officially announced a Booster Gold series, which will introduce Rip Hunter’s тιтular time-traveling father. The integration of Xolo Maridueña’s Jaime Reyes into the DCU also suggests that the franchise will eventually introduce Ted Kord, who motivates Booster Gold to work with Rip Hunter. And of course, Lanterns will introduce Hal Jordan, who becomes an honorary member of Rip Hunter’s Time Masters at some point in the comics.