Why the Arrowverse’s Abandoned Green Lantern Story Was the Right Call Explained by Diggle Actor

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The Arrowverse TV series hinted at the arrival of Green Lantern, but ultimately never introduced the character. The actor who prepared to play the role now believes that was for the best. While the Arrowverse successfully adapted many comic book storylines – including what many fans consider the definitive live-action version of the Crisis on Infinite Earths – some planned storylines, like Green Lantern’s introduction and a Blackest Night crossover, never materialized. Several factors contributed to this, including The CW network’s shift away from superhero programming. The actor intended for the role of Green Lantern shared that they exhausted all efforts to make it happen, but it wasn’t meant to be.

David Ramsey, known for his role as John Diggle in the show Arrow, was originally intended to become the Arrowverse’s version of Green Lantern. Ramsey recently shared in a ScreenRant panel that the storyline was always heading in that direction. He explained that he and Marc Guggenheim worked for six seasons trying to make it happen, but it proved difficult due to the complexities of using such a major character like Green Lantern.

Ramsey explained how they had planned to deceive Green Lantern, referencing the arrival of the Flash from Earth-90 during the Elseworlds event. He recalled a moment where Flash (played by John Wesley Shipp) questioned Diggle about his ring. Ramsey also noted that Ernie Hudson portrayed Flash’s stepfather, Colonel Stewart. “We did attempt it,” Ramsey stated, “but ultimately, the decision to move forward differently was the correct one.”

Ramsey clarified their previous statement by explaining that The CW and the Arrowverse were already overloaded with projects, and a Green Lantern series likely wouldn’t have succeeded at that time. They believe the project is now in better hands, stating that the existing political and ownership issues could have hindered its success previously.

Green Lantern Waiting For James Gunn Was For the Best

In Season 8 of The Flash, John Diggle decided against accepting the Green Lantern ring. According to Ramsey, this choice felt true to Diggle’s character. It was also a smart move, considering The CW was already moving away from shows popular with fans, cancelling everything except Superman & Lois. A Green Lantern spin-off likely wouldn’t have lasted long under those circumstances.

A potential storyline based on the ‘Blackest Night’ comic event was considered but ultimately didn’t happen. The show hinted at this in Season 8 of The Flash with the character Deathstorm. When Deathstorm was defeated, it created a ripple effect that even reached the villain Nekron, which could have paved the way for the event. However, since the Green Lantern Corps were part of the show, a ‘Blackest Night’ storyline wasn’t feasible, and the idea was dropped.

Ramsey was right – the Green Lantern franchise is in good hands now. Although the Arrowverse could have made a great Green Lantern series, The CW had already started to move away from DC Comics properties by then. Now, thanks to James Gunn’s new plans for movies and shows on HBO Max, Green Lantern has a real opportunity to succeed on television. The series Green Lanterns is scheduled to premiere on HBO Max in late 2026, starring Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart.

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2025-11-24 22:17