The Rookie fans will have a lot to look forward to in 2027. Not only will they see the resolution of the Season 8 finale cliffhanger, but they'll also be treated to a new spinoff. The Rookie: North, starring Jay Ellis, has officially been ordered for next season, premiering midseason alongside its parent show on ABC. While details about potential crossovers have been scarce, I’ve been waiting for Nathan Fillion to weigh in on the possibility, and someone finally asked him.

Even though The Rookie takes place in LA and North is set in Washington state, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s impossible for a crossover to happen. The NCIS, FBI and CSI franchises are definitely proof of that. While appearing on Watch What Happens Live, Fillion was asked by a fan in the audience if there were any crossover plans for the spinoff, and he gave a very straight answer:

I could not be more excited that there will be crossovers between The Rookie and The Rookie: North! Not that I had a heavy amount of doubt, since Fillion is also an executive producer on the spinoff, which is created by The Rookie boss Alexi Hawley. Still, it’s great to have confirmation. Plus, unlike the franchise's since-canceled first spinoff, The Rookie: Feds, North did not get a backdoor pilot. So, theoretically, a crossover early in the series would be the perfect way to bring fans in.

Of course, that fan question left a little wiggle room for speculation, as Fillion didn't initially say whether he himself would appear on North. Thankfully, host Andy Cohen followed up and asked specifically if the Canadian actor would appear on the new series as John Nolan. From there, Fillion answered another direct answer as well as a funny quip:

It's hard to say when details surrounding the crossovers between The Rookie and The Rookie: North will be revealed. Production on the pilot for North was completed earlier this year up in Vancouver. Aside from that, filming for both shows is set to kick off in a matter of months. Unfortunately, since the sibling shows won’t be premiering until January at the earliest, concrete information on the crossovers may not come until much later.

Still, I'm hopeful that the wait will be worth it. And, in the meantime, maybe some cast members will share some BTS tidbits online. More recently, the Rookie cast reached out to Jay Ellis via social media to congratulate him after his new show was picked up. Here's hoping Nathan Fillion and co. will drop more information in the near future.

For now, all episodes of The Rookie are available to stream with a Hulu subscription ahead of The Rookie: North's premiere on ABC in early 2027.

Major spoilers below for the latest episode of The Rookie, so be warned if you haven’t yet watched “Dead Ringer“ on ABC, via Hulu subscription or Disney+ subscription.

All good things must come to an end, especially when such goodness has turned more sour and harder to control. So it went on The Rookie, which didn’t even wait until next week’s Season 8 finale before one of its series regulars was killed off in a most cold-blooded way, and star Bridget Regan opened up about bidding a bloody farewell to Monica Stevens.

The drama, which avoided becoming one of several recent TV cancellations when ABC officially ordered up Season 9, gave fans a shocking penultimate episode that put Regan’s stressed lawyer into a corner that she just couldn’t escape from, even though she was literally trying to do just that by getting out of Los Angeles. Unfortunately for Monica, escaping the task force, the dangerous Cooper Johnson (and other criminals) and a life in WitSec just wasn’t in the cards, and she was shot point blank by a faux rideshare driver.

Speaking with TV Insider, Bridget Regan shared her thoughts and emotions regarding The Rookie’s biggest death of the 2026 TV schedule so far — fingers crossed for the finale — and shared why she wasn’t surprised to learn about Monica’s doomed fate, saying:

To Regan's point, Monica Stevens has had quite the excitable journey in her four seasons on The Rookie, and has survived enough close calls that it wouldn't have been completely out of the realm of possibilities for her to survive this latest narrative path. Alas, her wick was burned up at both ends. But even in the end, she showcased the self-concerned ego that kept her around for as long as she was, with that final request that her shooter: "Not in the face."

But even though Monica's tragic fate didn't come as a surprise to Bridget Regan, she shared that she was taken aback by how much empathy she felt for her character, and Monica's desperately hopeless plight to steer away from darker instincts and behavior. In her words:

Indeed, such "What if...?"feelings were addressed in Monica's emotional (and final) talk with Shawn Ashmore's Wes, when he tries to tell her that it's not too late, and that she can still make a choice that won't automatically doom her. But as Regan put it, Monica was too far gone for any kind of truly plausible escape.

With zero doubts about whether or not Monica actually is dead, given how much screentime her corpse got, it's possible we could see her popping back up in flashbacks. But Regan says such possibilies are entirely up to creator Alexi Hawley, and that even if zero flashbacks happen, she's more than grateful for the time she's spent in Monica's platform-heeled shoes.

The Rookie's Season 8 finale is set to air on ABC on Monday, May 4, at 10:00 p.m. ET. Will it set up a future where the characters head out to new locations, per co-star Jenna Dewan's wishes? We'll have to wait and see.

As ABC continues to make decisions for next season, The Rookie recently got some very good news. The procedural is indeed coming back for Season 9, and Season 8 is still airing on the 2026 TV schedule. While the intense storylines involving action, romance, and drama had something to do with the renewal, as well as the beloved characters, that’s not all. Audience is, of course, a big chunk of the decision, and I just found out that teens are actually the target audience, and my mind is blown.

Deadline reports that the show’s Season 8 premiere in January was The Rookie’s biggest debut on streaming, and was also among the Top 5 ABC premieres of all time. It was up from last season’s premiere in MP+3 viewership, but that’s not where the surprising part comes in. Evidently, as The Rookie continues to have its most-watched season on streaming, it closed out 2025 as the top broadcast show among teens.

As someone in their late 20s, I would have assumed that the target audience would be people around my age or a little older. You don’t really hear of high schoolers watching procedurals; that’s why they call a lot of procedurals and crime dramas “dad shows.” However, those who watch The Rookie have also probably seen the insane amounts of TikToks that the cast puts out. They’re usually taken on set, whether just a funny video, part of a trend, etc., and they usually do pretty well, too. So it wouldn’t be surprising if those TikToks account for bringing in a chunk of the teens.

And the teens and everyone else will have to prepare themselves for what’s to come. When the Season 8 finale airs next month, it will surely bring some talk to the high school cafeteria, no matter what happens. Creator, showrunner, and executive producer Alexi Hawley told Deadline that there “might be a cliffhanger” at the end of the season, so who knows what’s going to go down.

Additionally, if ABC really wants the spinoff, The Rookie: North to do well if it moves forward, they should definitely require the cast to sign up for TikTok. It may seem like a silly idea, but if TikTok really is part of the reason why The Rookie is bringing in so many teens and helping the ratings, it may not be such a bad idea. Plus, it’s clearly working.

It can be assumed that, knowing their target audience is teens, the cast will continue making TikToks well into Season 9, and I will enjoy every single one. It does make me curious as to who the target audience was when The Rookie first premiered, because it wouldn’t be surprising if that changed over the course of the show. For now, though, new episodes air on Mondays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC, streaming the next day with a Hulu subscription.

After quite a long wait, The Rookie Season 8 is finally airing on the 2026 TV schedule. The new episodes pick up after the events of the Season 7 finale, which saw Nathan Fillion’s John Nolan getting kidnapped by infamous villain Oscar Hutchinson (Matthew Glave). That marked Oscar's first appearance since escaping prison in the Season 6 finale. Hutchinson has been causing trouble for Fillion’s titular officer since the very first season and, now he's set to return this season as well. Fillion teased that comeback, and I’m now pumped to see what happens.

What Nathan Fillion Said About Oscar’s Return

Since Nolan was kidnapped and nearly killed the last time he saw Oscar, it's safe to say that the officer won’t be ecstatic to see him again. It’s unknown what exactly will bring Oscar back into the fold, as varied developments brought him into contact with Nolan in the past. Nolan's need for help or vice versa, Oscar's donation of an organ and his prison escape are among the factors that have brought them together. Fillion spoke to TV Insider about what’s in store when Oscar eventually returns, and he’s going to have some tricks up his sleeve:

When it comes to Oscar, it's hard to know what to expect, especially since he loves getting under Nolan’s skin. Details surrounding his return have not been revealed, but I'd expect The Rookie to find a surprising way to bring the "tricky" Oscar back into the fold. Regardless of how Nolan and Oscar cross paths again, though, I'm just glad they'll be sharing the screen again.

Why I’m Eager For Oscar’s Return

As previously mentioned, Nolan and Oscar have a long history (and they're definitely no Chenford). Oscar made his first appearance in Season 1, Episode 15, “Manhunt,” when he was apprehended after trying to steal a car from a parking lot after escaping from a prison bus crash. Since then, he’s returned on various occasions, and Nolan becomes more and more annoyed to see him every time. At this point, Nolan seems very aware of what Oscar is capable of and knows of his habit of escaping a situation.

Oscar Hutchinson is one of those characters fans love to hate and hate to love. Despite how bad he is, I find it entertaining whenever he pops up, because his presence sparks some comedic scenes. Plus, his fixation on Nolan prompts him to make some wild choices, which make for great TV. Oscar is one of those villains who I just get excited to see, because he makes the show more interesting, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was one of the reasons why Fillion loves the job so much.

It feels likely that more details about Oscar’s return will be revealed sooner rather than later but, for now, fans will have to keep theorizing just what will go down. In the meantime, know that The Rookie will be shifting to a new day starting this Monday at 10 p.m. ET on ABC, following American Idol. And, of course, the series will still be streaming the next day with a Hulu subscription.

Superman is still making headlines long after the premiere date, and I think it's safe to say there's a new Man of Steel running DC's future. With potentially four movies to get to know David Corwenswet's hero, it also means some other heroes will be along for the ride. Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner, for example, and that goofy wig he has to wear.

James Gunn was delighted to talk about that wig when speaking at San Diego Comic-Con, and assured that he's going to keep the Green Lantern star around and in projects as much as he can. Of course, he joked that part of it is because he likes seeing him in the "stupid" wig he has to wear. Check out the clip, which CinemaBlend captured during the Peacemaker Season 2 panel:

What's funny to me is that James Gunn made that joke, fully knowing that he intended to have Guy Gardner appear in Peacemaker Season 2. The season premiere served as a way of retconning Zack Snyder's original DCEU, which may be why he didn't outright announce the cameo would be happening at San Diego Comic-Con.

With only so many heroes involved in the DCU, I guess it tracks that Nathan Fillion might have to wear his "stupid" Guy Gardner wig to appear in a number of upcoming superhero movies if called upon to do so. It certainly seems like the actor is game to do more movies, and even pitched a detective-style mystery movie to CinemaBlend.

Even though I wasn't a fan of how James Gunn changed the hair color of the Green Lantern, I have to concede that he was one of the best parts of the Superman movie. In a world where we're forced to wait and see whether there will be a Mr. Terrific standalone franchise, I'll settle for seeing Nathan Fillion playing Guy Gardner and ushering in other members of the Lantern Corps to properly build that universe.

It's a good thing, then, that we already know Fillion will return as the hero in the Lanterns series, set for those with an HBO Max subscription sometime in 2026. That said, the show is not centered on his character and is supposed to introduce the audience to James Gunn's versions of the famous Green Lanterns, Hal Jordan and John Stewart. I would assume neither of them will have to wear wigs, though they might need a bald cap.

Superman's theatrical run is still ongoing, though given how quickly movies head to streaming these days, one can imagine it won't be long before we see it pop up on HBO Max. Readers can stick with CinemaBlend as we continue to celebrate it and await news of what else is on the way for the DCU, some of which may be teased in Peacemaker Season 2.

David Corenswet’s Clark Kent may have been the star of Superman, but the 2025 movie release also served as a platform for fellow superheroes Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, Mr. Terrific and Metamorpho to shine. The former two were played by Nathan Fillion and Isabela Merced, respectively, and we’ll see them reprising their DCU roles when Peacemaker Season 2 premieres on the 2025 TV schedule later this month. Ahead of that upcoming DC TV show, Merced shared some lovely praise about Fillion, along with a hilarious description of what it’s like texting with him.

When the Last of Us actress was asked in an interview with TVLine what her experience with The Rookie’s lead has been like, she wasted no time heaping the praise, but also pointing out the amusingly self-centered way he likes to text:

Look, if I had as many gifs of myself floating around the internet as Nathan Fillion does, I’d probably be breaking them out for texts too. Adding the stickers of himself to photos where he’s not present takes things an even funnier step forward. At least he keeps the conversation entertaining!

Isabela Merced went on to share how Nathan Fillion “loves people” and enjoys spending time with them, even outside of a work setting. She was impressed by the “sort of patience” he has with everyone, with her in particular, he went out of his way to make sure she was comfortable during the course of filming Superman. As she recalled:

As if all this wasn’t enough to impress Isabela Merced, she also took notice of how big of a fan he was of Superman even before he was cast to play the bowl-cut Guy Gardner, one of Earth’s Green Lanterns, in the first DCU movie. Merced wrapped up this portion of the interview by saying:

Guy Gardner is just the latest DC role Nathan Fillion’s snagged for his resume, with his past characters, including fellow Green Lantern Hal Jordan in various animated movies, Steve Trevor in 2009’s animated Wonder Woman movie, Vigilante in Justice League Unlimited, and T.D.K. in The Suicide Squad. Throw in his various Marvel roles from over the years, and he might as well be considered comic book media royalty. But as far as real life goes, it’s good to know that Merced’s experience working alongside Fillion was so pleasant, so fingers crossed they get to

While it remains to be when we’ll see Isabela Merced playing Hawkgirl again post-Peacemaker Season 2, let along if the winged hero will get her own movie, the good news is there’s more of Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner on the way in 2026. He’ll be back in action for the HBO series Lanterns, which stars Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart.

The newly formed DCU is finally upon us, with co-CEO James Gunn bringing its first slate of projects to life, titled Gods and Monsters. The first movie in this burgeoning shared universe was Superman, which featured a number of other heroes. That includes Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner, who is a bad boy of the Green Lantern Corps. I just realized this is the only live-action version of a GL that I've ever been satisfied with as a fan.

Superman is crushing at the box office, and fans like me are already hyped to see the characters return in upcoming DC movies and TV shows. We all remember that Ryan Reynolds' infamous Green Lantern movie was a flop, and that hero has yet to get another solo flick. While Gardner is kind of an A-hole jerk in Gunn's movie, the way his powers were used throughout its runtime both looked and felt great. So, I guess having a good live-action Lantern is indeed possible.

Guy Gardner Was The Perfect Green Lantern To Open The DCU

Part of the reason why I think Green Lantern worked so well in Superman was because it as Guy Gardner. While he's less popular than other Lanterns like Hal Jordan or John Stewart, he does have a way bigger personality. Nathan Fillion said it was freeing to play a superhero who was also a jerk, which added both humor and drama to the movie's 129-minute runtime.

While we'll be introduced to other members of the Corps. in the developing Lanterns TV series, Gardner's attitude offered a way for audiences to instantly understand who the character was. Add in Gardner's wild hair cut (and the jokes about it), and he offered a ton to the overall story of Superman.

The CGI Was Less Mind-Numbing Than In Ryan Reynolds' Movie.

There has been a ton of talk about the quality of visual effects in the superhero genre. I personally thought Superman looked great... even if shots of David Corenswet flying in the trailer caused some concern. In particular I loved the way that Gardner's energy construct functioned throughout James Gunn's DC blockbuster.

While Ryan Reynolds' Green Lantern movie featured way more Lanterns and their constructs, the action ultimately felt somewhat boring and mind-numbing. Gardner was one of many heroes that used their powers in Superman during its battles, allowing for more varied action. We'll have to see what happens when more than one member of the Corps. are in the same project.

The constructs that Green Lanterns create can sometimes feel cheesy, but that wasn't the case for Superman. Gardner hilariously uses constructs of his middle finger to beat up bad guys, and even creates a giant bat when he and other members of the Justice Gang are fighting an alien threat in the background of a scene. His somewhat cartoony powers added to the action and the comedy of the movie, once again proving why it's the best live-action version of the cosmic peacekeeping force.

Superman is in theaters now as part of the 2025 movie release list, and Nathan Fillion will reprise his role in both Peacemaker Season 2 and Lanterns.

Being the media addict that I am, I have seen every episode of Two Guys And A Girl (nee Two Guys, A Girl, And A Pizza Place), and that means that I know Nathan Fillion and Ryan Reynolds go way back. While the latter was a star on the ABC sitcom from the start in 1998, the former joined in Season 2 and eventually became a major character. Despite knowing that history, however, I wasn't aware of two other more recent bits of trivia: Fillion has a cameo in Deadpool that didn't make the final cut, and he was lined up for a part in Deadpool 2 before voicing Headpool in Deadpool & Wolverine.

Fillion has a number of comic book movies appearances on his resume, including all three chapters of the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy (admittedly his role in Vol. 2 is very hard to spot) and the newly released Superman, in which he plays Guy Gardner a.k.a. Green Lantern. While recently talking with Entertainment Weekly, however, the actor made note of his deleted scene in Deadpool:

While Nathan Fillion was apparently too busy with his commitment to his long-running network series to take a bigger part in Deadpool, there is a deleted scene where he can very briefly be seen as a towel guy in the sequence set in the strip club that employs Morena Baccarin's Vanessa.

As for Deadpool 2, Nathan Fillion didn't mention specifically what role Ryan Reynolds reached out to him about, but he is appreciative of his former co-star staying in touch and wanting to work together. Eventually they finally got to reteam in the making of Deadpool & Wolverine, which the Rookie star voicing the floating zombie head known as Headpool... but even that role wasn't the initial idea:

It's a cameo that fits right alongside a number of other special appearances in the sequence where Deadpool and Wolverine face off against a collection of Deadpool variants. In addition to Nathan Fillion as Headpool, the collective also includes Blake Lively as Ladypool and Matthew McConaughey as Cowboypool.

Now feeling in the mood to watch the Deadpool movies? That's very easy to do if you have a Disney+ subscription, as Deadpool, Deadpool 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine are all available in the streamer's library.

You are warned, there are definitely spoilers for Superman ahead!

James Gunn’s Superman, which opened this weekend as part of the 2025 movie schedule, is dominating the box office, but in the movie, Superman (David Corenswet) himself does not exactly dominate his enemies. In fact, starting with the opening scene, Superman is usually getting his butt kicked throughout the film. While I think Superman is great and a very solid start to the newly rebooted DC Universe, I did get a little frustrated as I watched, wondering just who was the most powerful superhero in this movie.

Two Hours Of Superman On His Back Foot

The first image we see of Superman, as it was with the trailer, is the Kryptonian lying bruised and bloody in the snow somewhere near, but not in, his Fortress of Solitude. Earth's yellow sun heals him quickly, but as the title card says, this is the first time the Man of Steel has lost a battle.

It’s a great beginning, and I was immediately drawn in, but somewhere towards the middle of the film, I started to get really annoyed at how often Superman got his butt kicked by the villains. First by “The Hammer of Boravia” (who we later find out is actually Ultraman, played also by Corenswet), then later by Lex Luthor’s newly formed “Authority” led by Ultraman and The Engineer, played by María Gabriela de Faría (Superman has a great female cast).

He also has a rough go of it in Lex Luthor’s jail when he is debilitated by Metamorpho’s ability to turn into kryptonite. Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) gets the better of Superman while he’s in the cell, not by laying hands on him physically, but by roughing him up emotionally, while Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan) does the physical bit. All in all, it’s a pretty rough movie for Superman.

Meanwhile, The Green Lantern is Seemingly Untouchable

While Superman is taking his lumps throughout the superhero movie, The Green Lantern, played wonderfully by Nathan Fillion, walks through disasters and battles with nary a scratch. He is unflappable and seemingly untouchable by any of the many enemies he faces throughout the movie. He’s even cocky about it.

This all leads me to wonder just who the real superhero is here? Superman is, for lack of a better term, human, throughout, while Lantern is unstoppable. He always knows what to do, and he saves Superman on more than one occasion, not to mention saving the people of Jarhanpur along with the other members of the “Justice Gang.” Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) and Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi) both have their moments saving Superman, too. Even Kryto the dog saves Supe at one point.

This is all to say that while I did really enjoy the movie, and I think writer and director James Gunn nailed the tone of a great Superman story, it really started to bother me that Superman was never really “super” until the very end of the film. Gunn’s relaunch of the DCU is off to a great start, and I can’t wait to see Milly Alcock in Supergirl on the 2026 movie schedule. Her cameo was aces!

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains minor spoilers for Superman. If you have not yet seen the film, proceed at your own risk!

With the launch of the DC Universe in the last few months – first on the small screen with the animated Creature Commandos, and more recently on the big screen with Superman – it feels like the franchise is in the midst of a blue sky moment. There is no specific "house style" being developed by DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran, and with the upcoming DC movie slate populated with diverse projects including Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow, Clayface and Peacemaker Season 2, it feels like any idea is potentially on the table for the canon.

So how about some kind of detective mystery for the Justice Gang? That was the idea that Superman star Nathan Fillion suggested during the recent press day for the new 2025 blockbuster, and it's something I would love to see happen. CinemaBlend's Jeff McCobb asked Fillion, Isabela Merced, Anthony Carrigan and Edi Gathegi what they would like to see next for their superhero team, and while Gathegi and Merced deferred to the mind of James Gunn, the actor who plays Guy Gardner a.k.a. Green Lantern offered a specific suggestion:

In Superman, the Justice Gang as a whole is called into action when dealing with two threats – and as noted by Nathan Fillion, they are threats that are pretty extreme. The first is a kaiju that is stomping around the streets of Metropolis causing havoc; and the second is the Boravian invasion of Jarhanpur, which requires the heroes to dismantle a nation's military. Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, and Mr. Terrific fight impressively, and their might is even greater now that Metamorpho is a part of the roster, but since we've already seen them perform in a big battle, it would be fantastic to see them operate in a more low key, investigative fashion.

Leaning into the team dynamic, Isabela Merced backed her co-stars idea and suggested taking influence from the excellence that Rian Johnson has been executing in the last few years:

To add to the idea: I know that Nathan Fillion is excited by the prospect of the DC Universe introducing a Batman (so that the canon can include an adaptation of the moment in the comics where the Dark Knight knocks out Guy Gardner), he isn't the investigator who I would want to see guiding the mystery of a Justice Gang-centric mystery. Instead of the World's Greatest Detective, leaning into the collection of oddballs that is the roster, I would much prefer to see the first ever live-action version of the faceless sleuth known as The Question.

Time will tell if this is an idea that could ever take seed and grow into something real in the DC Universe – but for now, we can be excited for everything that is on the way in the coming years from Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters, and enjoy both Creature Commandos and Superman, which are respectively available with a HBO Max subscription and playing in theaters everywhere.

The DCU is coming together before our eyes, thanks to projects hitting theaters and streaming with a Max subscription. The first slate of projects is titled Gods and Monsters, and James Gunn's Superman is bringing it to the big screen for the first time. Nathan Fillion is playing Green Lantern Guy Garner in the DC flick and revealed that he tried on a ton of bobs before landing on his character's look.

What we know about Superman has been limited up until its release this weekend, although it was clear that other heroes like Green Lantern and Hawkgirl were included. Fillion spoke to EW about his process, including finding the character's signature wild hair style. As he shared:

Oh, to be a fly on the wall during this wig testing. Because while Guy Gardner's hair in Superman is wild, I can only imagine how he'd look in wigs that resembled He-Man and/or Justin Bieber. Release the Bieber cut, damnit!

The 54 year-old actor has been super passionate about his role in the DCU, with Fillion loving what a jerk Guy Gardner is in both Superman and Peacemaker Season 2. And the character's bravado combined with his silly hair cut is likely going to create an interesting dynamic on screen.

While the Green Lantern Corps. are an intergalactic peacekeeping force, that doesn't mean that they're all good people. Guy Gardner has all the power that comes with his ring, but sounds like a gruff character. And I can't wait to see how that plays out when he interacts with other characters in the DCU... especially David Corenswet's Kal-El.

Aside from Superman and Peacemaker, Gardner is also going to reprise his role in the upcoming Lanterns series. This will offer another chance for his wig to take center stage, but also for him to have conflicts with other, more noble, members of the Green Lantern Corps..

We're still in the early stages of the DCU, so perhaps Guy Gardner (and his wig) will change as time goes on. Perhaps this could allow for some of the alternate bobs to come to life, including the one inspired by Justin Bieber. I mean, who doesn't want to see his DC hero with swoopy bangs in the midst of battle?

Fillion makes his DCU debut in Superman, which is in theaters now as part of the 2025 movie release list, and will reprise his role in Peacemaker when Season 2 hits Max on August 21st.

The DC Universe isn't quite ready for the Justice League just yet. As DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran build out their plan for the canon in what has been dubbed Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters, they've put some notable heroes instantly in play, but DC's most famous superhero group has not yet assembled. Instead, for now, Superman is introducing fans to what has been dubbed the Justice Gang – and the stars of that ensemble have some thoughts about the JL roster.

CinemaBlend's Jeff McCobb attended the Los Angeles press day for Superman last month, and while sitting down with Anthony Carrigan (who plays Metamorpho in the film) and the members of the Justice Gang (Isabela Merced a.k.a Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion a.k.a. Green Lantern, and Edi Gathegi a.k.a. Mr. Terrific), he asked for their first round Justice League picks. As captured in the video above, instead of going for some of more obvious choices like The Flash and Aquaman, they offered up some unexpected names who would be great to see on the big screen.

Interestingly showing a bit of bias towards heroes who could be described as follically challenged, Anthony Carrigan's first thought was Martian Manhunter (who is a classic Justice League character), but later he added Deadman to the mix – a character who audiences have never seen in live-action on the big screen. For those who aren't familiar, he is the ghost of an acrobat who has the ability to temporarily possess the living. Along with Metamorpho, it would be an interesting group, as Carrigan noted:

Edi Gathegi also had the instinct to go a bit weird with the question and suggested that Plastic Man be a part of the Justice League conversation. The stretchy character would certainly be an easy method of injecting some humor into a big DC blockbuster with DC's biggest team, and it wouldn't be difficult to find a star who would be interested in taking on the role. While Ben Schwartz is best known to audiences for voicing Sonic The Hedgehog, he has been campaigning for the opportunity to play Plastic Man for years.

Of course, it's worth noting that the classic DC Trinity also got some love in the room as well. Wanting to see some fellow female heroes team-up with Hawkgirl on the big screen, Isabela Merced suggested the animal powers of Vixen and the dark magic of Raven, but she also wants to see the DC Universe of Wonder Woman. And as for Nathan Fillion, he is stoked to see the continuity's incarnation of Batman. Why? Because there is a famous scene from the comics where the Dark Knight knocks out Guy Gardner a.k.a. Green Lantern with a crack to the jaw, and it's a moment that he would love to bring to the big screen.

There will surely be a lot of speculation about the team on the way in the coming months and years – but let's not put the cart before the horse! Before we can see the DC Universe's Justice League, we're first being introduced to the Justice Gang, and that's happening this weekend with the arrival of Superman in theaters everywhere on Friday. As I note in my four-and-a-half star CinemaBlend review, it's an absolute blast, and after you see the blockbuster, be sure to head back here to the site for more of our interview and feature coverage.

As someone who’s been a Green Lantern fan for over 15 years and was disappointed by how Ryan Reynolds’ Green Lantern movie turned out, I’m thrilled that this DC Comics property is getting another shot at live-action thanks to the DC Universe. First, we’ll see the bowl cut-boasting Guy Gardner in action next month in James Gunn’s Superman, and then we’ll meet fellow Green Lantern Corps members Hal Jordan and John Stewart in Lanterns next year. It was announced at the end of March that Nathan Fillion will also reprise Guy in that upcoming DC TV show, and I’m digging what the actor had to say about how his Green Lantern character will differ there compared to how he’s depicted in Superman.

Lanterns will mark Fillion’s third time playing Guy, as he’s appearing in Peacemaker Season 2 this August alongside fellow Justice Gang member Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) and the team’s benefactor, Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn). However, 2026 will be the first time we see this version of Guy interact with other Green Lanterns, and here’s what the star of ABC’s The Rookie said to EW about how that will look:

Like his comic book counterpart, Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner has a brash and arrogant personality that clashes with the more disciplined personalities of Hal Jordan and John Stewart, though the latter certainly isn’t lacking in cockiness. Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre are respectively playing these characters in Lanterns, which will follow them investigating a murder in the American heartland. It’s unclear how Guy will get involved, but I’m guessing this will be his first time meeting John and one of his many interactions with Hal if they’ve both been in the Green Lantern Corps for a while.

Fillion also spent some time talking about Guy Gardner’s overinflated ego, and how he’s a prime example that just because you’re a Green Lantern doesn’t make you a role model. In the actor’s words:

I’m curious to learn how Guy Garner ends up factoring into Lanterns, as this story is about Hal and John, so he should only be there to support them rather than steal the show. That said, considering this Green Lantern TV show will also feature Ulrich Thomsen as Sinestro, I wouldn’t mind whatsoever seeing Guy trash talk the Korugarian who was once a Green Lantern and now wields the yellow energy of fear. If there’s one thing Guy knows how to do, it’s annoy an adversary… and his allies too, actually.

Lanterns is expected to premiere on HBO sometime in early 2026, with episodes also being available to stream with a Max subscription. Watch Nathan Fillion bring Guy Gardner to life for the first time when Superman is released on July 11.

After watching the Peacemaker Season 2 trailer last week, I immediately found myself asking what’s happened to Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller since she’s no longer in charge of A.R.G.U.S. I’d be lying, however, if I said I wasn’t surprised to learn from the preview that Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner, Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl and Sean Gunn’s Maxwell Lord are appearing in this upcoming DC TV show following their debut in James Gunn’s Superman. But as Fillion recently discussed, it’s going to be a “powder keg” when Guy and John Cena’s Christopher Smith crossed paths.

Fillion briefly discussed his second turn as Earth’s bowl-cut Green Lantern while speaking with TVLine, confirming these two characters will definitely not be fans of one another when Peacemaker Season 2 starts airing on the 2025 TV schedule. As he put it:

As seen in the trailer, Peacemaker meets Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl and Maxwell Lord when he’s trying out for the superhero team Lord has put together that also includes Edi Gathegi’s Mister Terrific. Unfortunately for Mr. Smith, a faulty microphone results in him hearing the trio be unimpressed with his qualifications and other things not intended for his ears. Guy is seen laughing at the awkwardness the technical difficulty caused, and he’s clearly not broken up about not having Peacemaker as his new teammate.

From the way Nathan Fillion is talking, it sounds like we’ll see Peacemaker and Guy Gardner together in more than just this one scene. That snippet of footage doesn’t scream “powder keg” to me, so I’m eager to see just how specifically these two brash personalities clash. Like Fillion pointed out, the irony is that Peacemaker and Guy are pretty similar to one another because they both believe they should be more highly thought of among their superhero peers. At least in Guy’s case though, he’s already on a superhero team, which I’m sure makes him think he’s superior to Christopher Smith.

Following our first encounter with Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner in Superman starting July 11, we’ll see just how he and Christopher Smith butt heads when Peacemaker Season 2 premieres August 21 on Max. Fillion will also reprise his DCU character next year in HBO’s Lanterns opposite Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart.

After voicing Hal Jordan in various direct-to-video animated DC movies, including those within the DC Animated Movie Universe timeline, Nathan Fillion will soon be seen bringing another Green Lantern life. The Castle actor is appearing in James Gunn’s Superman as Guy Gardner, who was the second human to become a member of the Green Lantern Corps in the comics. Guy is also known for his brash personality and occasionally sporting a distinctive hairstyle. Regarding the latter, Fillion opened up about how the bowl cut was decided upon for the character’s DCU depiction.

Make no mistake, Fillion was very much “Team Bowl Cut” when the upcoming DC movie was being put together. He stated this while on the DC Studios Showcase Official Podcast, saying the following about what it was like figuring out what kind of wig he’d be wearing on Superman:

Although Guy Gardner has rocked other hairstyles in the comics, his bowl cut from the ‘80s, in particular from his time on the Justice League International, still stands out. So while it may not be the most fashionable look in the 2020s, Nathan Fillion was adamant that the bowl cut be selected, otherwise he feared that there’d be an outcry from fans. Evidently James Gunn, who also co-runs DC Studios, agreed with him, and thus another key DCU decision was made.

However, as already stated, that’s not Fillion’s actual hair being seen in Superman. When Nathan Fillion was asked if he considered growing out his hair, he explained that his current gig on The Rookie prevented him from doing that:

Yeah, I have to agree with him on that. It would be incredibly off-putting for John Nolan to suddenly start arresting criminals with a bowl cut on The Rookie, and a blonde one at that. The wig was a better call, and we’ll be seeing plenty of it. After Superman’s release, Fillion will reprise Guy Gardner alongside Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl and Sean Gunn’s Maxwell Lord in Peacemaker Season 2, which premieres August 21 on Max. After that, Fillion’s Guy will be back for Lanterns, which is expected to arrive on HBO sometime in early 2026.

Superman flies onto the 2025 movies schedule on July 11. However, you don’t have to wait until then to dive into the DC Universe, as Creature Commandos Season 1 is streaming with a Max subscription.

The Rookie has wrapped up its seventh season amid the 2025 TV schedule but, fear not, as the series will return for Season 8. It’s hard to believe ABC's police procedural has entertained fans for seven seasons now. Despite the twists and turns and heartache it puts viewers through, it remains a favorite for me and likely others as well. Lead actor Nathan Fillion relishes his time on the show, and he even just explained why it ranks as the "best" acting gig he's ever booked.

It's no secret that Fillion has a pretty extensive body of work, ranging from Firefly and Castle to Saving Private Ryan and Guardians of the Galaxy. He's even playing Green Lantern Guy Gardner in the upcoming Superman film. Even with his wide range of roles, his stint as Officer John Nolan has been his favorite for a number of reasons. Fillion spoke to People at Disney’s Upfronts and explained why he doesn't equate his job to The Rookie's fixed runtime:

Atmospheres on TV or film sets can definitely vary, with some being more enjoyable and others being more intense. I love hearing that Fillion is still having a great time as his latest show prepares to enter its eighth season. The camaraderie amongst the cast also seems to be palpable, given the fun videos they share on TikTok and how they interact with each other during interviews and conventions. Off-camera chemistry like theirs is certainly a rarity, and it's heartwarming to know that Fillion is so grateful for the position he's in.

The actor's sentiment isn't so surprising, especially since he previously shared a heartfelt reaction to The Rookie’s Season 8 renewal. At that point, he reflected on his time on the series and sharing how rare it is to have a long-running show these days. The show is well over the 100-episode mark now, which is indeed an accomplishment. Of course, it's a bit early to start thinking about Episode 200. However, if the cast is having as much fun as they appear to be, I can't help but wonder if they're eager to keep working together to reach that aforementioned milestone.

As for story developments on The Rookie, without giving too much away, the Season 7 finale certainly left fans with some questions in regard to the eight season. That includes a few unknowns involving the future of Chenford, whose complicated relationship continues. Unfortunately, the show won’t be returning this fall, as it's once again being held for midseason in 2026. Despite that, I'm hopeful that it'll definitely be worth the wait.

Fellow fans, also join me in hoping that Nathan Fillion's tenure on the show continues to be harmonious and enjoyable. And, if you want to see the fruits of his and his collaborators' labor, stream all seven seasons of The Rookie now using a Hulu subscription.

It may seem that working on a television show is an immediate ticket to success, but it’s hardly any kind of long-term guarantee, particularly at this time of year. The 2025 TV schedule is still delivering fresh episodes on a weekly basis, but there are already some series for which the future is uncertain. However, such is luckily not the case for a slate of ABC shows, including cop drama The Rookie, which was recently renewed for Season 8, and star Nathan Fillion gave his sweet reaction to fans.

What Did The Rookie’s Nathan Fillion Say About The Season 8 Renewal?

As you can probably imagine, the entire cast and crew of The Rookie are celebrating right now as filming continues on the currently airing Season 7 of the popular show. This is especially true, considering that even though they’ve enjoyed a blissfully long run, being renewed every season has not been an automatic given for the police procedural. As such, star Nathan Fillion took to Instagram to relay his heartfelt reaction to the announcement, and said:

Fans have now been tuning in to The Rookie for well over 100 episodes, which is still a rare feat for a show to achieve. Even though Fillion certainly knows what it’s like to lead a long-running show (with Castle lasting for eight seasons before being shockingly canceled right after many of the stars signed new contracts), he’s also experienced the lows of having a beloved series be cut short (We are all still mad about Firefly, OK?), so it’s good to see just how grateful he is for all the viewer support and hard work from his partners in front of and behind the scenes.

One of Fillion’s best movies and TV shows has joined the list of current ABC renewals, which include High Potential, the Tim Allen/Kat Dennings comedy Shifting Gears, Emmy-winner Abbott Elementary, Will Trent, Grey’s Anatomy and the Angela Bassett-starring 9-1-1. You can take a look at Fillion’s full post, below:

It’s cool to see everyone so happy, isn’t it? Along with the renewal pumping everyone up, the ratings are another reason for them to be excited. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the March 25 episode (which saw John and Celina face a hostage situation) nabbed the show’s biggest audience since halfway into Season 5, which came in January 2023. All in all, the series is riding high right now, and it’s fabulous to see.

The DC Universe is still in its infancy, but the film and TV franchise is already treating Green Lantern quite well. First, James Gunn’s Superman will feature Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner as one of its supporting heroes when it’s released onto the 2025 movies schedule this summer. Then in 2026, we’re getting the Green Lantern-focused series Lanterns will spotlight Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart. Now word’s come in that Fillion will reprise Guy in the upcoming DC TV show, and I’ve already thought of the moment I’d like to see from him when he stops by.

First things first, this casting update comes from EW, although it wasn’t disclosed how many episodes Guy will appear in over Lanterns’ run on HBO (and later streamable with a Max subscription). Back when Lanterns was announced as part of the unveiling of the DCU’s Chapter One: Gods and Monsters slate, Gunn, who also co-runs DC Studios with Peter Safran, said that “a few other Lanterns” would be “peppered in there” alongside Hal and John. Now we know one of them… well, two if you count Ulrich Thomsen’s Sinestro, but it sounds like he’ll already be wearing his yellow ring of fear rather than the emerald ring of willpower.

Guy Gardner is actually the second Green Lantern Fillion has played, as he previously voiced Hal Jordan in a handful of direct-to-video animated DC movies. Also, if we count The Suicide Squad loosely existing in the DCU continuity, then this is his second role in this particular franchise, as he appeared as TDK in James Gunn’s first DC movie. As far as his Guy Gardner portrayal in Superman goes, Fillion described the character as a “jerk” who, while filling the Green Lantern requirement of being “fearless,” is just “not very good.” Yep, that sounds like Guy.

Regardless of how much we see of Guy in Lanterns, I’m hoping the HBO series carves out some time to show how the character was chosen to become a Green Lantern. In the comics, Guy was tapped as Hal’s replacement when he was incapacitated, and this was back when there was only one Green Lantern assigned per sector in the universe. But as the decades passed, Sector 2814 wracked up more and more human Green Lanterns serving at the same time, and clearly that’s how things work in the DCU as well.

So was Fillion’s Guy also selected as the replacement for Chandler’s Hal? Or did Hal also mentor Guy like he’s doing with Pierre’s John now? Considering Guy’s personality, it’s a safe bet to say that he and Hal didn’t get along nearly as well as Hal and John hopefully do. But that’s part of Guy’s package deal, so I look forward to seeing flashbacks of these two butting heads. And if Guy also gets involved in Lanterns’ present day events, then it will also surely be amusing to see how he behaves around John.

While Lanterns won’t arrive until sometime in early 2026, you can see Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner in action starting on July 11 with the release of Superman. Other actors appearing on the TV show include Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Nicole Ari Parker, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Sherman Augustus, J. Alphonse Nicholson and Jason Ritter.

The superhero genre continues to be a powerful force in the entertainment industry. And with the DCEU over (and streaming with a Max subscription), all eyes are on how the upcoming DC movies will introduce the new shared universe. The DCU will begin its journey on the big screen with Superman, which will feature a number of other heroes in addition to David Corenswet's title character. That includes Nathan Fillion's take on Green Lantern bad boy Guy Gardner, with the actor recently sharing how "freeing" it was to play a hero that's also "a jerk."

What we know about Superman is limited, but anticipation for the project is steadily building, especially as it'll seemingly set up future installments of Gods and Monsters. Fans are definitely hyped to see other DC heroes in the action, including Hawkgirl, Mister Terrific, Metamorpho, and Guy Gardner. Fillion spoke to TV Guide about his upcoming debut as a Green Lantern, offering:

Honestly, that does sound like a fun role. While Fillion is indeed playing a superhero, Guy Gardner isn't known for his kindness like Superman. And it sounds like that's exactly what the Firefly actor likes about his DC role. Is it July yet?

Since Gardner apparently thinks he can take on the Man of Steel, it should be fun to see how Nathan Fillion's character interacts with the rest of the Superman cast. I have to assume that his brash personality will see him butt heads with a few of his fellow heroes throughout the movie's runtime. And if these conflicts get physical it'll be fascinating to see the various super powered characters come to blows. After all, they have very different skillsets.

Fans who spent years watching the DC movies in order have been patiently waiting for the Green Lantern Corps. to factor into the comic book action. They were noticeably absent from the DCEU, except for a brief cameo by a Lantern during Justice League. There's also a developing Green Lantern show, although it's already been a long time coming. For now fans will look forward to the release of Superman on July 11th as part of the 2025 movie release dates.

With each new look at James Gunn's Superman, the wait for the upcoming superhero movie gets more unbearable. He's been on a hot streak with jaw-dropping trailers for most people, but I have to knock him for one thing. The director loses some points for me after the first look at Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner, whose hair was the first thing that stood out to me.

While I've read enough about Fillion's approach to playing Gardner to know he has a good grasp on the character and his history, I have a specific issue with the Green Lantern's look. While I remain thrilled about Superman and other upcoming DC movies under Gunn's direction, we gotta talk about the hair.

Guy Gardner Is Historically A Redhead

As a redhead, I couldn't help but notice how blonde Guy Gardner's bowl cut looked in the brief snippets we saw of it. There's a part of me that sees tinges of red when I zero in, but if I were to just spot him on the street, I'd say he's a blonde. With so limited representation of redheads in the superhero genre, I have to put my foot down and rabble about this erasure.

Has it always been mildly offensive that Guy Gardner's hot-head persona played into the stereotype that redheaded people are quick to anger? Absolutely, but that didn't mean he needed to go blonde. He was a character this young redheaded child looked up to despite his overbearing and somewhat annoying personality. This is going to be his first live-action appearance in DC movies, and it's not going to be as a redhead. My inner child is very disappointed by that, and that other children with red hair won't have him to look up to when they see the movie. At least the kids with a bowl cut will still have something to celebrate.

There Is One Potential Explanation To This I'd Accept

Robert Frost once wrote, "Nothing gold can stay," and I would spin that to "Everything red will fade." Redheads tend to lose the vibrance of their red hair with age, and seeing as Fillion is playing an older version of Guy Gardner, it's possible his red hair has faded. This would explain why it's not quite as orange or dark red as we've seen in DC Comics and all the animated series the character's appeared in.

Even so, I can't help but be a little disappointed that Guy Gardner is not as ginger as I expected him to be. At the same time, there's still plenty I'm excited about with Superman, like Rachel Brosnahan working with real journalists to make her Lois Lane as accurate as possible. That speaks to a different part of my personality, so maybe that can fill the void I lost in not seeing a redheaded Gardner.

My hopes remain high that Superman will be a big revival for the superhero, who has struggled to find consistent footing in DC films despite generating box office success. Gunn, of course, has had a lot of wins in the superhero genre, so here's hoping he can bring the Man Of Steel the multi-film endeavor it deserves.

Superman hits theaters on July 11th. Get ready for a summer slammed with great movies, with this one hopefully being a highlight despite the blatant disrespect to the redhead community.

The Rookie Season 7 has been airing on the 2025 TV schedule, and things have been tense. Between psychotic ex-husbands on the loose, serial killers, and plenty of relationship drama, it seems like the characters just can’t catch a break. While viewers are probably high-key stressed, the cast seems to be having a blast filming Season 7. And after production returned to the scene of a big shootout, Alan Tudyk confirmed a hilarious souvenir he took to remember it.

Nathan Fillion took to Instagram to share that The Rookie was filming at a diner previously used in the Season 4 finale that guest-starred his Firefly co-star. The diner was where Nolan, Bailey, and Tudyk’s character were holed up before a gang shot it up in order to take back a criminal. Fillion explained that he told the Resident Alien star he was back at the diner, and after Tudyk confirmed a bullet-filled souvenir, the ABC show's star had a pretty witty response, and I can’t stop laughing:

I really don’t know what’s better. The fact that Tudyk has a bullet hole cake or that Fillion’s joke was so bad it was good. Perhaps the only thing that would make this better is if Tudyk were to show off the cake with bullet holes. And that makes me wonder if he has any other bullet-filled props lying around his home.

The voice actor guest starred as Ellroy Basso in two episodes of The Rookie, first appearing in Season 2 before coming back for the Season 4 finale. Even for just appearing in two episodes across two seasons, it seems like Tudyk really enjoyed being on The Rookie and forever has a reminder of his time on it.

As for why The Rookie is back at the infamous diner, it’s unknown. It likely has nothing to do with the previous shootout that happened there, and it just so happened to be a reused location. It’s not uncommon.

Also, since only five episodes have aired of the 18-episode season, it might be a while until it comes into play again. Fillion said it was just from his camera roll, so it’s also very possible that the content he posted was from a while ago. Whatever the case may be, Tudyk certainly takes the cake in souvenirs.

Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk starred in the short-lived space Western drama Firefly in 2002, as well as its 2005 feature film Serenity. It’s nice that they are still close after all these years and can come up with jokes on the fly, no matter how bad. Since Tudyk's Ellroy is still alive, at least that fans know of, perhaps he can make a surprise appearance in the near future?

For now, fans will have to settle with rewatching his two appearances with a Hulu subscription. New episodes of The Rookie air on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC. There will be much to look forward to, even amid the shootouts and tense relationships.

Kelly Clarkson is no stranger to fame and famous people. She is a massive pop star who deals with fans consistently, plus she’s a talk show host, so she speaks with major A-list celebrities on a daily basis. However, she seemingly has her moments of being star-struck and nervous too, as she explained how her adoration for Nathan Fillion and nervousness over acting caused her guest spot on The Rookie to go worse than she would have liked.

In a fan Q&A for The Kelly Clarkson Show, the singer and host was asked about what other TV shows she wants to be on as well as how she “manifested” her walk-on role in The Rookie. Before answering the question about possibly acting again though, she apologized to the cast and crew of the ABC show, saying:

It sounds like Kelly Clarkson has probably seen many of Nathan Fillion’s best movies and TV shows, and she’s specifically a big fan of Castle, which ran for eight seasons. I know that when I watch a show or listen to someone's music for nearly a decade, I form such a strong connection with their character, project and cast. So, if I were to meet them, I’d fumble my words and I’m sure I’d find myself very nervous and embarrassed. Therefore, I highly doubt the pop star actually embarrassed herself, she was simply having a normal fangirl reaction.

Also, it’s worth noting that Kelly Clarkson did swell on her episode of The Rookie. She appeared in the opening scene of Season 5, Episode 12 – “Death Notice” – as herself. The moment featured her standing in a hospital elevator holding balloons and flowers while a big chunk of the show’s cast loaded into the lift, including Fillion’s John Nolan.

Overall, it was a small moment and a sweet cameo, and I really don’t think she has anything to worry about, considering the cast of the drama has been on her show and The Kelly Clarkson Show posted this adorable BTS video about her cameo:

However, I do totally understand why she was so nervous that day. While the "Stronger" singer is no stranger to being on TV – seeing as she broke big as an American Idol contestant, served as a coach on The Voice for seasons and now hosts The Kelly Clarkson Show – acting is not something she does. Outside of a few cameos on shows like Reba and The Crazy Ones, she’s kept her acting work to voice-over and her own music videos. So, I understand why she was very nervous about being on The Rookie and doesn’t want to do much acting overall.

In the end, I totally get where the singer was coming from and why she was so nervous, this gig was out of her element and she was working with actors she’s a massive fan of. That’s nerve-wracking. However, she killed it, they all seemed to love it, and we all got a fun scene because of it, and for that, I thank Kelly Clarkson!

To go back and see her in The Rookie, you can stream the series with a Hulu subscription. To catch new episodes as they air on the 2025 TV schedule, make sure to tune into ABC on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, if you want to see what Kelly Clarkson is up to, you can catch new episodes of The Kelly Clarkson Show on weekdays on NBC.

While The Rookie Season 7 just premiered on the 2025 TV schedule after being in production during the fall schedule, co-star Jenna Dewan was absent from the first two episodes. It’s no surprise, though, as the actress gave birth over the summer just before filming commenced for the latest season. Last May, creator and showrunner Alexi Hawley revealed that Dewan would not be appearing in the season's earliest installments, and now that fans have really started questioning her absence, both the actress and series boss have addressed her impending return.

The Season 6 finale of The Rookie ended with a prison escape involving longtime Rookie criminal Oscar Hutchinson (Matthew Glave) and Bailey’s sociopathic ex-husband, Jason Wyler (Steve Kazee). That storyline will continue with Jason in Episode 3, airing January 21, and Dewan took to social media to tease Bailey's next appearance, though not before Hawley had already confirmed to Screen Rant when the character would reappearance after her National Guard stint. In his words:

Exactly how Bailey will make her return is still unknown, but Hawley seemed to make it clear the only reason we haven't seen her is because of the actress' real-life changes, and that no one should expect her to be out for the long haul.

Jenna Dewan seems to be as excited as ever, as well. The Step Up actress shared on her Instagram Story (via TV Insider) a sweet photo of her and baby Rhiannon, her second child with fiancé Kazee, along with this captioned reasoning:

The series has already been touching on the prison escape, with Nathan Fillion’s John Nolan being as vigilant as ever with the knowledge that his wife would be in danger were she at home. Since tthe third ep will show more of the fallout, there is no telling what will go down, especially with Bailey coming back to town. Both of them are surely in danger, and just from the looks of the promo seen below, it’s going to be an episode fans won’t want to miss.

Since the characters have not only Jason to worry about but Oscar, who has more than a few times proved that he is a formidable adversary for the LAPD, it should be interesting to see how this all goes down. It’s likely the storyline won’t be solved right away, especially since the series has gone back to old habits, meaning there will be more serialized elements with just one or two big storylines throughout the season. The prison escape can certainly last a while, or at the very least, perhaps just half the season.

Either way, the new episode and remainder of the season will not want to be missed. Plus, there are other storylines to look forward to other than the prison escape, meaning that the possibilities are endless as to what will happen. Season 7 just started, so who knows what could go down. New episodes of The Rookie air on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC, streaming the next day with a Hulu subscription.

While the list of A-listers who have joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe is long and diverse, another list that’s worth looking into is the wild group of actors, performers and others who have said yes to doing cameos. So, in celebration of those folks, here are the 32 best cameos in the MCU. 

Harry Styles As Eros In The Eternals 

Big names pop up in the MCU all the time, however, they’re almost always well-known actors. While Harry Styles has had a few acting roles, it’s not his primary profession, so yes, it was shocking when the singer showed up as Eros, Thanos’ brother, in the post-credits scene of The Eternals. However, since the film’s release in 2021, Styles’ future in the MCU has remained unknown, leaving his role as simply a cameo and nothing more.  

Blake Lively As Lady Deadpool In Deadpool & Wolverine 

Leading into Deadpool & Wolverine’s release, the speculation about who would play Lady Deadpool was running rampant. However, it wasn’t all too shocking when it was revealed that Ryan Reynolds’ wife Blake Lively was playing the female variant of her partner’s merc with the mouth.  

Sam Neill As Odin’s Actor In Thor: Ragnarok 

While the Thor: Ragnarok cast is stacked with legends like Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Mark Ruffalo, Jeff Goldblum and more, Taika Waititi also assembled quite the ensemble of cameos to play a troupe of actors in Asgard who put on a play about Thor and his family. This included Jurassic Park’s Sam Neill, who portrayed Anthony Hopkins’ King of Asgard, Odin.  

Stan Lee As Various Characters 

While future MCU projects sadly won’t have any in-person Stan Lee cameos, we can always re-watch the Marvel movies in order to see the legendary comic writer. Before his death in 2018, Stan Lee made cameos in just about every Marvel project, whether it was from Marvel Studios, Fox or Sony. 

Some fan-favorite cameos from him included his role as a security guard in Captain America: The Winter Solider, a New York resident being interviewed on the news in The Avengers and an astronaut telling a story to the Watchers in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, among many, many, many others. 

Matt Damon As Loki’s Actor In Thor: Ragnarok 

In the play Loki orchestrated in Thor: Ragnarok that tells the (not so true) story of him and his family, Matt Damon was cast to play the role of Tom Hiddleston’s God of Mischief. Which honestly, is inspired casting. Damon also popped in the non-MCU Deadpool 2. 

Kevin Bacon As Himself In Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

Bringing a joke from Guardians of the Galaxy full circle almost eight years later, Peter’s hero Kevin Bacon finally appears. However, it’s kind of against his will, because Drax and Mantis decide to go to Earth and steal the Footloose actor to give to Chris Pratt’s character as a gift of holiday cheer.  

Miley Cyrus As Mainframe In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, we see a group of Ravagers approach The Guardians. One of them is a robot head named Mainframe, and it's voiced by Miley Cyrus.

Trevor Noah As Griot In Black Panther

Much like how Paul Bettany voiced J.A.R.V.I.S., Trevor Noah voiced Griot, Shuri’s artificial intelligence she uses at her lab in Wakanda in Black Panther. 

Melissa McCarthy As Hela’s Actress In Thor: Love and Thunder 

Adding to the mix of A-listers playing actors who are playing Thor characters (try saying that five times fast), Melissa McCarthy took on the role of Cate Blanchett’s Hela – the goddess of death – in Thor: Love and Thunder. She joined the theatrical company that already featured Sam Neill, Matt Damon and Luke Hemsworth to reenact the events of Thor: Ragnarok in Taika Waititi’s second movie about the God of Thunder.

Kenneth Branagh As Asgardian Distress Call In Avengers: Infinity War

You probably know that Kenneth Branagh directed the first Thor movie. However, what you might not know is he provided a meaningful Easter egg for Avengers: Infinity War. He voiced the Asgardian Distress Call that was played after Thanos attacked their ship. 

Luke Hemsworth As Thor’s Actor In Thor: Ragnarok 

Who else could play Chris Hemsworth’s Thor in an Asgardian play about the adventures of the God of Thunder and his family? Truly, picking Luke Hemsworth to play his real-life brother’s character was fantastic! The added bonus that makes all this even better is their other brother, Liam Hemsworth also auditioned to play the god back in the day. 

Bruce Campbell As Pizza Poppa In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness saw director Sam Raimi’s return to the superhero genre. With him came his The Evil Dead star Bruce Campbell, who played Pizza Poppa in the Doctor Strange movie. 

Bill Maher As Himself In Iron Man 3

During a montage of news clips in Iron Man 3, Bill Maher pops up as they’re talking about War Machine’s rebrand into The Iron Patriot. 

Charlie Cox As Daredevil In Spider-Man: No Way Home

If you saw Spider-Man: No Way Home in theaters on opening night, you likely heard applause when Charlie Cox made his big-screen MCU debut as Matt Murdock. While he played Daredevil for three seasons on his Netflix show, and he has returned as the character since this cameo where he was giving Peter Parker legal advice, this was the first time we’d seen Cox back in action in years. 

Tom Morello As Gaurd In Iron Man

Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello made one of the first cameos in the MCU when he popped up for a quick second in Iron Man. In the movie, he played a guard in the Ten Rings camp that Tony Stark was being held at. 

Joan Rivers As Herself In Iron Man 3

Along with Bill Maher and a bunch of other TV personalities, Joan Rivers popped up to rib on War Machine’s rebranding in Iron Man 3. 

Harry Dean Stanton As Security Guard In The Avengers

In The Avengers, there’s a security guard who finds Bruce Banner after he crashes into the Earth as Hulk. That guard is played by Harry Dean Stanton, who is best known for his roles in classic films like Alien, The Green Mile, Paris Texas and Repo Man. 

Justin Theroux As Police Officer In Iron Man 2

Not only did Justin Theroux write Iron Man 2, but he also had the smallest blink-and-you-’ll-miss-it cameo, per CBR. He played one of the police officers who arrested Justin Hammer and escorted Pepper Potts off the premises toward the end of the film. 

Rob Zombie As Ravager Navigator In Guardians of the Galaxy

In many of James Gunn’s movies, Rob Zombie makes a cameo. After doing that for Slither and Super, he lent his voice to his friend's first Marvel movie by voicing a Ravager Navigator in Guardians of the Galaxy. 

Megan Thee Stallion As Herself In She-Hulk: Attorney at Law

We can thank Jameela Jamil for Megan Thee Stallion’s incredible cameo in She-Hulk. The rapper appeared in an episode of the Disney+ show during a courtroom scene, and then she popped up one more time to twerk with the titular attorney. 

David Hasselhoff As Himself In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

When Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill was a kid he’d pretend that David Hasselhoff was his dad. So, in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Hasselhoff was part of one of the songs on the soundtrack – “Guardians Inferno” –  and it plays during the end credits. And at the very end of those credits, you can see his face pop up as he says the final words of the song. Talk about an epic cameo.

Brett Goldstein As Hercules In Thor: Love and Thunder

In the post-credit scene for Thor: Love and Thunder, Brett Goldstein appeared as Hercules. In his brief scene, he was shown speaking with Russell Crowe’s Zeus. It was thrilling to see the Ted Lasso star show up as the son of Zeus, however, it’s been years since that happened, and he hasn’t shown up again. 

Ken Jeong As Security Guard In Avengers: Endgame

Before the Russo Brothers were making big fancy Marvel movies, they worked on Community. So, it’s always fun to see actors from that show pop up in the MCU. For example in Avengers: Endgame, Ken Jeong appeared for a quick cameo as a security guard who is watching over the storage unit that Ant-Man’s van is in. 

Nathan Fillion As Monstrous Inmate In Guardians of the Galaxy And Headpool In Deadpool And Wolverine

You can see Nathan Fillion (looking like himself) as a major member of the supporting cast in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, as he plays Master Karja. However, before that, he had a cameo in James Gunn’s first Guardians movie, because he voiced “Monstrous Inmate.” After that, he voiced Headpool during the Deadpool variant fight in Deadpool and Wolverine. 

Brad Pitt As The Vanisher In Deadpool 2

Now, I fully realize Deadpool 2 wasn’t technically in the MCU, but Deadpool and Wolverine is, so this counts. One of the most fun cameos maybe ever came when Brad Pitt appeared for a split second in the Ryan Reynolds-led sequel to play The Vanisher right as he gets electrocuted. 

Joe Russo As Grieving Man In Avengers: Endgame

Joe and Anthony Russo are best known as the guys behind the camera who led some of the best Marvel movies, including Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and, of course, Avengers: Endgame. So, in this big finale for the MCU’s Infinity Saga, Joe Russo made a cameo as part of Steve Rogers' support group. 

Yvette Nicole Brown As S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent In Avengers: Endgame

The Russo Brothers didn’t forget their roots, and included multiple members of the Community cast in their Marvel movies. This included Yvette Nicole Brown, who played a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent that Tony Stark and Steve Rogers run into when they go back in time to steal Pym Particles. 

David Bradley As Tower Keeper In Captain America: The First Avenger

David Bradley is a legendary British character actor, and you’ll likely recognize him for his role as Filch in the Harry Potter cast or as The Doctor in various episodes of Doctor Who. He also notably played a small role as the Tower Keeper protecting the Tesseract in Captain America: The First Avenger.

Danny Pudi As Com Tech #1 In Captain America: The Winter Soldier

The Russo Brothers adore their Community cast, so in their first Marvel movie, they gave Danny Pudi, Abed himself, a little cameo. For a brief minute, you can see him as Com Tech #1 during the beloved Captain America sequel. 

Garrett Morris As Car Driver In Ant-Man

While Ant-Man himself is played by a comedy legend, that actor being Paul Rudd, there’s another hilarious icon in this cast. Yep, original Saturday Night Live cast member Garrett Morris (who actually dressed up as the superhero on the sketch comedy show back in the day) appeared in this movie as a man driving a car that Ant-Man fell onto, and it’s fantastic!

Matthew McConaughey As Cowboypool In Deadpool and Wolverine

When all the variants of Deadpool appeared to fight Deadpool and Wolverine, one of them was Cowboypool. Fittingly, the Western Merc with the Mouth was voiced by Matthew McConaughey.

Henry Cavill As Cavillrine In Deadpool and Wolverine

When Wade Wilson was looking for a Wolverine to bring back to his universe, he came across one version of Logan who was played by Henry Cavill. After seeing fanart of the former Superman as the X-Man, it was clear he was a good fit for the part, and it was incredible to see Deadpool and Wolverine act on the fans’ wishes. 

As you can see the range of these cameos is wide, and frankly legendary. And we’re sure that as Marvel continues to release movies and TV shows, the iconic cameos will keep coming. 

SPOILER WARNING: The following article will straight-up ruin just about all of the best cameos in the threequel, so if you have not seen the movie, maybe hop over to our Deadpool & Wolverine review and avoid spoiling yourself. 

For some fans, epic and even funny superhero movie cameos are the best part of any comic book flick. The new superhero movie Deadpool & Wolverine has them by the crapload thanks to a script that takes full advantage of the MCU’s recent experimentation with multiverse travel and allows Ryan Reynolds’ Merc with a Mouth and Hugh Jackman’s X-Man to interact with both new Marvel movie characters and favorites from the 20th Century Fox era. 

In case there are any character or celebrity sightings that slipped past you or went over your head, I will we cover the most crucial examples later in this article. However, first, I will take a closer look at the Deadpool & Wolverine cameos that made the most jaw-dropping impact to the Marvel timeline. You're welcome.

Deadpool & Wolverine's Biggest Cameos

Jon Favreau As Happy Hogan

Early on in Deadpool & Wolverine, we see a 2018-era Wade Wilson seeking a chance to become part of the Avengers in a meeting with Happy Hogan (Iron Man director Jon Favreau). Things do not go in the Merc’s favor, however, when Tony Stark’s former right-hand man points out that his request to join the world’s greatest heroes is more self-serving and should be selfless.

Henry Cavill As The Cavillrine

Deadpool’s search for a variant of Logan who could save his dying timeline brings him face to face with several unique versions of the adamantium-clawed mutant, who are all played by Jackman, of course… except for one. Previous rumors of Henry Cavill playing a Wolverine variant proved to be true, with the former Superman actor appearing extra bulky in the role of, as Deadpool dubs him “the Cavillrine.”

Chris Evans As Johnny Storm

Chris Evans’ cameo just might be the most surprising of all because we — and Deadpool — assume we are seeing his return as Steve Rogers, a.k.a. Captain America. That is, until he shouts “Flame on!”, reveals his Fantastic Four outfit and confirms he is reprising his first Marvel movie character, Johnny Storm, a.k.a The Human Torch. Sadly, the reprisal also proves brief after Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin) takes his skin off for talking shit, which Deadpool proves was not his fault in Deadpool & Wolverine’s end-credits scene.

Aaron Stanford As Pyro

Johnny Storm is unable to defend himself after his incendiary abilities are absorbed by one of Cassandra’s lead henchpeople, Pyro. Aaron Stanford returns to play the fire-manipulating mutant whom he first portrayed in one of the best X-Men movies, X2: X-Men United.

Tyler Mane As Sabretooth

After playing Victor “Sabretooth” Creed in 2000’s X-Men, Tyler Mane was replaced in  X-Men Origins: Wolverine — which more deeply explored his and Logan’s relationship as brothers — with Liev Schreiber. For Deadpool & Wolverine, the former professional wrestler got to put the fangs back on for another, overdue showdown with Jackman’s Wolverine that sees him lose his head… literally.

Toad

Another X-Men movies alum serving Cassandra’s will is Toad, named for his inhumanly long tongue, who is portrayed by an unidentified actor this time. Had Ray Park reprised the character, that could have given Deadpool a perfect opportunity to poke fun at the actor’s more iconic role: Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.

Juggernaut

Another Fox-era Marvel version of an X-Men character showing up as a Nova henchperson is Juggernaut, whose helmet proves to be a vital instrument in helping Deadpool and Wolverine escape The Void. Vinnie Jones, who previously played the mutant in 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand, does not reprise the role here, but it was a fun callback, even if Reynolds previously voiced a CGI Juggernaut in Deadpool 2.

Jennifer Garner As Elektra

Deadpool and Wolverine eventually cross paths with another group of Fox-era Marvel movie characters, including Elektra Natchios, played by the already-confirmed Jennifer Garner. The actor previously portrayed the assassin in 2003’s Daredevil opposite her future ex-husband, Ben Affleck, in the title role — whose absence is mentioned in a cheeky bit — and in her own self-titled spinoff from 2005.

Wesley Snipes As Blade

Also part of Elektra’s group is Wesley Snipes as the title role from the original Blade movies, which — despite rumors Snipes would appear — was also quite a surprise, considering Reynolds told IGN there was tension between them on the Blade: Trinity set. The film also sees Snipes reference Marvel’s upcoming Blade reboot with Mahershala Ali by toutin himself as the one and only Blade there will ever be.

Channing Tatum As Gambit

Years ago, Fox attempted a movie starring Channing Tatum as X-Men character Remy LaBeau, a.k.a. Gambit, that never made it out of development hell. However, Tatum would finally portray the mutant card shark in a hilarious Deadpool & Wolverine appearance that sees him don a sometimes indecipherable Cajun accent.

Dafne Keen As Laura/X-23

Perhaps the one cameo with the most emotional heft is Dafne Keen, reprising her role from 2017’s Logan as Laura, otherwise known X-23, who is a young, clawed woman made from Logan’s DNA. She helps encourage the disillusioned mutant to step up and be the hero he failed to be in his own timeline.

Wunmi Mosaku As Hunter B-15

Outside of Happy Hogan, the one other major MCU character to appear in Deadpool & Wolverine is Hunter B-15, played by Wunmi Mosaku. It is nice to see her in her fully-fledged position as the leader of TVA, who thanks Wade and Logan for their help saving the Marvel Multiverse.

Deadpool & Wolverine Cameos You Might Have Missed

Psylocke

Another one of the classic X-Men movie characters employed by Cassandra in The Void is Psylocke, who is seen mostly in the background. In fact, we are not even sure who portrayed the telekinetic mutant, but we are pretty sure it was neither Mei Mleançon from X-Men: The Last Stand, nor Olivia Munn from X-Men: Apocalypse.

Lady Deathstrike

We are also not sure who dons the retractable fingernails to play Lady Deathstrike in Deadpool & Wolverine, but it does not appear to be X2’s Kelly Hu. Perhaps this version of the mutant is different from the one Logan killed in that film.

Blake Lively As Lady Deadpool

There were plenty of rumors about who would play Lady Deadpool, including Taylor Swift and Blake Lively. The latter turned out to be true and was confirmed in the film’s credits, but a part of us wishes we could have seen Reynolds’ real-life spouse in the Lady Deadpool suit rather than just voice her.

Matthew McConaughey As Cowboy Deadpool

We also never got to see who played a Western version of the Merc known as Cowboy Deadpool. However, audiences who listened closely enough to his few lines might have been able to recognize the voice of Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey.

Nathan Fillion As Headpool

Nathan Fillion can now add a third name to the list of multiple MCU characters he has played, following “Monstrous Inmate” and Karja in the first and third Guardians of the Galaxy movies, respectively. The former Firefly cast member voices Headpool, which also marks the second time he has played a disembodied head, following his role on Santa Clarita Diet.

Inez Reynolds As Kidpool

A younger, but still equally foul-mouthed variant of Wade Wilson known as Kidpool has a very close connection to Reynolds and Lively. She is played by the power couple’s oldest daughter, Inez.

Paul Mullin As Welshpool

Eagle-eyed viewers may have noticed a Deadpool variant bearing the flag of Wales on his outfit. This one is called Welshpool and, as Reynolds confirmed on X, he is played by Paul Mullin — a professional footballer from the Wrexham AFC, which is owned by Reynolds and Rob McElhenny.

We can’t remember the last time a great superhero movie blew us away with so many insane cameos like this. Catch Deadpool & Wolverine in theaters now!

Comedy festival Netflix Is A Joke has brought the world’s biggest comedians to Los Angeles for a series of live shows. Most of these shows are centered around Netflix programming, creating a pretty unique experience for fans, and such was the case when Nick Kroll brought the cast of the raunchy teen puberty cartoon Big Mouth to the Greek Theater stage. Kroll also surprised the crowd with some fabulous guest appearances, one of which was none other than Nathan Fillion, who regularly plays himself on Big Mouth in a recurring cameo. A cameo was the intention, anyway, but according to Fillion himself, many Big Mouth fans don’t know that he exists in real life. 

The name “Nathan Fillion” is uttered on the show frequently enough that it could easily stick in the head of someone who has never seen Firefly, The Rookie, Castle, or any of Fillion’s other many TV and film credits. At Big Mouth Live, he explained that people recognize his name from the show frequently, but don’t know that he’s a “real guy." Fillion said:

Allow me to provide some context. In Big Mouth, Nathan Fillion is the celebrity crush of adolescent girl Missy, who fantasizes about him in various geekily romantic circumstances. He’s frequently in his iconic Firefly garb, but he’s also appeared as a Kirk-esque space captain and, oddly enough, as a very handsome family dog. When Missy appears with him in said fantasies, she always says his name in full (to humorously push the whole “cameo” thing further on the nose). There has to be some irony in the idea that despite all of this, people would simply think that Nathan Fillion is a character invented for Big Mouth. 

Of course Nathan Fillion is crushing it outside of Big Mouth, successfully holding onto that status of “celebrity crush.” He recently showed his gratitude for the announcement that his long-running show The Rookie would be entering Season 7, and to really double-down on his appeal to us geeks, he’ll be appearing as Green Lantern Guy Gardner in James Gunn’s Superman next year. Big Mouth only has one season to go, but hopefully we’ll see some humorous DC references in one of Missy’s fantasies before the show ends its run.

Netflix Is A Joke will be running through this weekend, and if the chatter surrounding Tom Brady’s Roast from last Sunday is any indication, you’re going to want to be a part of the conversation. You can check out their website for ticket information, and see what content from the festival they’ll be streaming by taking a gander at the 2024 Netflix release schedule. 

As James Gunn continues filming 2025’s Superman as the lynchpin for the Gods and Monsters chapter of his DCU, fans are also eagerly awaiting all the other big upcoming DC movies and shows, from the animated series Creature Commandos to the adaptation of Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. Max’s Lanterns is also in the mix there, and while it’s easy to understand why, I do still wish the version that was initially focused on Alan Scott and Guy Gardner was coming, and it sounds like the previously cast Finn Wittrock shares that opinion, though he’s not overly upset about missing out.

At the time, Wittrock was cast as Guy Gardner, who will now be appearing in Superman and other DCU projects as portrayed by Nathan Fillion. The AHS vet held the role on paper for around a year and a half before the news broke that the project was getting a complete overhaul with a new lead character. The actor has kept pretty mum about all things superheroes in the months that followed, but opened up to ComicBook.com regarding his thoughts about missing out on playing a Lantern. Here's how he put it:

First, it's kind of a heartbreaking reality check to talk wistfully to a five-year-old kid about gigs that weren't meant to be. Especially since the tyke was possibly just enthused by the bright colors and cover art.

But on the more positive side of things, it rocks that Finn Wittrock could come away from that kind of job loss with any kind of a positive attitude, since it probably required time and commitment that could have been put into another project that actually did see the light of day. And he can still put that energy into another character, should one come his way. He continued:

By all means, I can't wait to see Nathan Fillion rocking out as Guy Gardner on the big screen, so I can't exactly hate on the way things turned out. But I also think Wittrock is kind of perfect for the current state of DC projects, given his background in theater and genres of all kinds. He knows how to play loud, brash and broad, but can also dial it all way down for something more quiet and contemplative. Maybe James Gunn can find another spot for him in the DCU somewhere. (Maybe I should have added him to my ideas for DCU Joker actors, given his turn as quasi-Twisty the Clown in American Horror Story: Freak Show.)

And for what it's worth, Wittrock told ComicBook.com that he would absolutely have gone the whole nine yards with Guy Gardner's red hair and bowl cut, even though he was waiting until the last possibly moment to make that change. That turned out to be a wildly wise move on his part.

Former Ozark showrunner Chris Mundy is behind Max's Lanterns, which hasn't unveiled any huge reveals in a while, so hopefully more information is coming soon.

Spoilers ahead for Episode 7 of The Rookie Season 6, called "Crushed."

The Rookie returned from a couple weeks of reruns in the 2024 TV schedule to deal with some heavy subjects, including the aftermath of Tim breaking up with Lucy. There was a more lighthearted storyline with Lopez and Harper deciding to share a nanny and split childcare costs. Nolan and Bailey's story falls somewhere in between, as there were some shenanigans about trying to find the time to make a baby along with serious concerns like finances and the risks of a geriatric pregnancy. There are more questions than answers at this point, but actress Jenna Dewan's real-life pregnancy raises the possibility of a time jump.

For Bailey, time is of the essence to get pregnant, with her health fears fueled by everything that she has seen women go through in the back of her ambulance. Nolan was thrown when he realized the costs of childcare nowadays compared to years ago, but still supportive. Of course, when it comes to ongoing TV shows, there's never any guarantee that a pregnancy will actually happen for central characters, since babies can be complications, and The Rookie was recently renewed for Season 7.

But if Bailey does have a bun in the oven before the end of Season 7, I have to wonder if Jenna Dewan's real-life pregnancy will be incorporated into the show via a time jump. It doesn't strike me as a coincidence that The Rookie is exploring potential parenthood for Nolan and Bailey in the same season that Dewan was filming while pregnant, and posts from the actress on Instagram confirm that she's definitely showing. Take a look:

If The Rookie does intend to incorporate Dewan's real-life pregnancy into the show for Nolan and Bailey, then there definitely will need to be a time jump. After all, even though the actress is expecting, the series has done a pretty great job of hiding the bump for her scenes as Bailey. The Rookie can be a little fast and loose when it comes to the passage of time, so it doesn't strike me as impossible that there could be a jump ahead before the end of the season.

That being said, I'm getting ahead of myself, since there's currently no confirmation that Bailey will be pregnant before the end of Season 6, if at all. In the promo for the next episode, it does look like the couple will be waiting to see a doctor when all hell breaks loose in the hospital, as is wont to happen on The Rookie. Check it out:

Only time will tell if Bailey is pregnant by the end of the sixth season, let alone if Jenna Dewan's real-life pregnancy will be incorporated via a time jump in the remaining episodes.

Keep tuning in to ABC on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET for new episodes of The Rookie, between Will Trent at 8 p.m. ET and The Good Doctor at 10 p.m. ET. You can also stream episodes of ABC's cop drama with a Hulu subscription now.

The comic book genre is going through a big change, as the DC Extended Universe ended with Aquaman 2, and a new shared universe is currently being formed by co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran. This new world will kick off with the highly anticipated upcoming DC movie Superman, directed by Gunn himself. Actor Nathan Fillion recently teased his approach to playing Green Lantern Guy Gardner, and I'm so in.

What we know about the Superman movie is limited, but James Gunn is bringing a number of heroes into the story to interact with David Corenswet's title character. That includes Guy Gardner, who is a Green Lantern member that's got a notorious attitude. Nathan Fillion recently spoke to Collider about how he's approaching his role in the Superman cast, saying:

Yeah, I'm sold. Rather than the beacon of hope that Green Lantern Hal Jordan has been in the comics, Guy Gardner is someone who operates in the margins of being a hero, and have his own set of demons. He's never been portrayed in live-action, so it's thrilling knowing how specific Fillion will be. 

While Guy Gardner was originally going to get a cameo in Ryan Reynolds' Green Lantern (which is streaming with a Max subscription), it didn't end up happening. As such, Nathan Fillion will be able to put his spin on the character without comparisons being made. 

The story of the new Superman movie is being kept under wraps, but it definitely turned heads that a variety of other heroes were also being included. In addition to Green Lantern bad boy Guy Gardner, we'll also be introduced to Hawkgirl, Mister Terrific and Metamorpho. 

As a DC fans I've always loved the Green Lantern Corps., in both the comics and various animated series. But unfortunately bringing them to live-action is easier said than done, and Ryan Reynolds' Green Lantern movie is somewhat infamous for this reason. But Guy Gardner is finally getting his time in the sun, and it'll be fun to see how his ego interacts with the Man of Steel.

Superman is currently expected to arrive in theaters on July 11th, 2025. In the meantime, check out the 2024 movie release dates. 

The Rookie is the latest ABC drama to get some good news in the 2024 TV schedule, following the renewals for 9-1-1 and Grey's Anatomy. The Nathan Fillion-led cop show is officially returning for a seventh season. After members of the ensemble cast celebrated the news shortly after it broke, the leading man took a bit longer, but his message was lovely once he shared it.

The delays from the WGA writers strike and cancellation of The Rookie: Feds – which Nathan Fillion said was "sobering" news to him – obviously didn't harm The Rookie's future on ABC. On Instagram, Fillion shared his response to the Season 7 renewal:

While Nathan Fillion obviously has experienced long-running TV success in his career between the eight seasons of Castle and six seasons of The Rookie so far, he certainly knows the feeling of losing work too early after the cancellation of Firefly back in the day. The star not only thanked the fans who have been watching The Rookie for more than 100 episodes now, but also the folks at ABC who have supported the show.

And ABC certainly has good reason to show that support. Accounting to Variety, Live+35 ratings data (a.k.a. totals after 35 days of delayed viewing) from the network total 11.9 million viewers for the Season 6 premiere across platforms, which is the highest since 2018. After 35 days, the rating for the premiere is a 2.9 in the 18-49 age demographic.

Nathan Fillion's post has gotten plenty of attention, including from former co-stars. Brandon Routh, who recurred in Season 3 as a polarizing character, posted in the comments:

Sometimes, emojis say what words cannot! 9-1-1: Lone Star's Gina Torres also hit the comment section with a callback to their mutual Firefly days:

The Castle cast was represented in the comments section as well, with Seamus Dever added some hand clapping emojis and Jon Huertas writing:

Some more current Rookie cast members also commented, with Fillion's on-screen wife Jenna Dewan writing:

Shawn Ashmore chimed in with "Yay buddy!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥" and Flula Borg wrote:

None of the good news and excitement is to say that everything in the story of Season 6 is happy for the characters of The Rookie... or fans, for that matter! The Chenford breakup put a stop – or at least a hold – on the fan-favorite romance between Lucy Chen and Tim Bradford. Still, the renewal means that the show has time to (hopefully) repair that relationship in the long run, since there may not be time in what's left of the abbreviated Season 6.

The Rookie is currently on a brief break between episodes, with the next not airing until Tuesday, April 30 at 9 p.m. ET on ABC. In the meantime, you can always revisit earlier episodes with a Hulu subscription streaming now.

The term “Geek God” — a title I like to designate to some of the most iconic celebrities you might find at a convention — is synonymous with Nathan Fillion. The actor has starred in some of the most worshipped cult favorites of both the big and small screen, especially in the realm of sci-fi, but his celebrated, eclectic career is defined by so much more.

The question is, what is his best work yet? I am sure you have your own opinion on the matter if you are a fan of the actor. So, let’s see if your choices match my choices for the best Nathan Fillion movies and TV shows, ranked in ascending order.

14. Con Man (2015-2017)

Nathan Fillion pokes fun at his career (and geek culture in general) in a highly exaggerated and quite cynical nature in Con Man. The similarities between himself and his character Jack Moore — the lead of a cancelled sci-fi TV show called Spectrum — are few and far between but totally obvious.

Moore plays a major role in the satirical web series (also one of the best Alan Tudyk TV shows), even in episodes he does not appear in, since his former co-star, Wray Nerely (Tudyk, who also created the show), often struggles to escape his shadow. These are definitely not the former Firefly cast members’ most likable roles, but they are easily some of their funniest.

13. Monsters University (2013)

Seeing John Goodman and Billy Crystal reprise their roles as Sully and Mike Wazowski made Monsters University — a prequel to one of the best Pixar movies, Monsters Inc. — worth seeing. However, Nathan Fillion steals the show as the voice of Johnny “The Jaw” Worthington III.

The leader of Sully and Mike’s rival fraternity is brought to life with the signature snark that the actor has perfected over the years. He demonstrates a lot of commitment to voicing the Roar Omega Roar president in a way that almost earns your respect upon introduction, but with an unlikable sleaziness that makes him a worthy antagonist.

12. Super (2010)

Nathan Fillion has starred in quite a few great superhero movies, more of which we will cover soon. Yet, none of them are anything like one of his earliest (and craziest) collaborations with writer and director James Gunn, Super.

The pitch-black comedy boasts another signature example of the actor playing a smaller (but memorably hilarious) character with a pivotal role in the story. In this case, it is fictional, Christian-based superhero The Holy Avenger, who inspires the depressed and mentally unstable Frank (Rainn Wilson) to become a wrench-wielding vigilante in hopes of rescuing his wife, Sarah (Liv Tyler).

11. A Series Of Unfortunate Events (2017-2019)

Nathan Fillion has played a few unsavory characters in his day. One of his more noble roles, surprisingly, comes from none other than Netflix’s A Series Of Unfortunate Events, which the actor was excited to star in for its non-dismissive treatment of younger audiences.

His delightfully brash performance as the Baudelaire orphans' ally and VFD member, Jacques Snicket (indeed, the brother of author and in-universe character, Lemony Snicket, played by Patrick Warburton), is one of the few uplifting elements of the comically bleak series adaptation of the popular books, despite his tragic fate.

10. Big Mouth (2017-2024)

Another one of Nathan Fillion’s best-known voice acting roles is one that is very close to his heart: himself. More accurately, he voices a caricature of himself, dressed as Firefly’s Captain Malcolm Reynolds, on one of the best animated TV shows of all time, Big Mouth.

To be even more clear, his appearances on the Netflix original, coming-of-age comedy exist purely in the romantic fantasies of Missy Foreman-Greenwald (formerly voiced by Jenny Slate and later by Ayo Edebiri). The mere fact that the real Fillion is the one providing the voice of this cleverly meta parody that borders on self-mockery makes it one of the most hilarious recurring roles on a show chock-full of brilliantly constructed characters.

9. Santa Clarita Diet (2017-2019)

It is funny how many of Nathan Fillion’s best shows were canceled too soon, such as Netflix’s romantic, comedic, and brainy reinterpretation of zombie lore, Santa Clarita Diet. He had yet another hilarious, scene-stealing recurring role as Gary West.

The real estate agent's professional rivalry with undead Sheila Hammond (Drew Barrymore) and her husband and partner, Joel (Timothy Olyphant), comes to a head when Sheila consumes most of his body. Fillion would play the role for the first two seasons, only for his more severely deteriorated self to be portrayed by none other than Alan Tudyk in the third and final season.

8. The Guardians Of The Galaxy Movies (2014-2023)

Nathan Fillion has worked with his friend James Gunn many, many times and, in fact, it may be more times than you realize. In 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, he voiced “Monstrous Inmate,” who threatens Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), and later appeared as The Orgosphere’s head security guard, Master Karja, in Vol. 3.

These dual roles — along with his Deadpool & Wolverine cameo as Headpool — make him one of a handful of actors who have portrayed more than one character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He almost had the bragging rights to say he was in every installment of the Guardians trilogy but his cameo as Simon “Wonder Man” Williams was cut from 2017’s Vol. 2.

7. Justice League: Doom (2012)

Nathan Fillion’s next collaboration with James Gunn will be in the filmmaker’s new Superman cast as Guy Gardner, better known as the Green Lantern. However, that will not be the first iteration of the intergalactic lawman he has portrayed since the actor has voiced Hal Jordan numerous times.

He has portrayed the role in various beloved DC animated movies and even several episodes of Robot Chicken, but my choice for the best example and overall best movie of the bunch would have to be Justice League: Doom. Also featuring one of the late Kevin Conroy’s best performances as Batman, the thrilling film sees Earth’s mightiest heroes fall prey to a contingency plan executed by Bane (Carlos Alazraqui), but actually designed by the Dark Knight himself.

6. Waitress (2007)

One of Nathan Fillion’s all-time best performances in a live-action feature film does not see him playing some intergalactic hero, but one of his most grounded and, admittedly, deeply flawed characters. In Waitress, he plays Dr. Jim Pomatter — a married obstetrician who engages in a passionate affair with pregnant and unhappily married diner server, Jenna Hunterson (Keri Russell).

For several reasons, their romance is doomed from the start. Yet, it provides each of them with a sense of much-needed comfort that makes the late writer and director Adrienne Shelly’s dramedy, as CinemaBlend's Waitress review calls it, "a delectable treat."

5. Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008)

As established, Nathan Fillion has played quite a few superheroes in his day. The most unique, distinct, and iconic of the bunch might be Captain Hammer in Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.

Fillion hams it up beautifully as the professional and romantic rival of Neil Patrick Harris’ titular, wannabe supervillain in Joss Whedon’s three-part web series, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. He also proves he has some decent pipes as a crimefighter only in it for the glory in the musical comic book fiction parody that cleverly sneaks up on you with its haunting conclusion.

4. The Rookie (2018-Present)

Clearly, we all love seeing Nathan Fillion play smarmy jackasses. Of course, that might be what made seeing him play a genuinely kindhearted and optimistic human being in The Rookie so refreshing.

His post-Castle return to TV sees him play John Nolan, who moves to L.A., seeking to turn over a new leaf by becoming a police officer but not without facing adversity for his age. As a crime procedural that trades in grimness for heart and mystery for character-driven storytelling without schmaltz, it is no wonder it became one of Fillion’s biggest small-screen hits.

3. Slither (2006)

James Gunn's first collaboration with Nathan Fillion is also the only time, so far, that he has cast him in a lead role. The actor gives one of his most badass performances as a sheriff struggling to do the right thing in a small town with a big problem.

Said problem involves an unstoppable horde of parasitic extraterrestrial worms transforming local citizens into grotesque mutants. That may sound like a pretty one-note B-movie description but Gunn makes Slither into one of the best horror-comedy movies of its time (if not all time) with some very inventive and cheekily hilarious uses of creature feature elements.

2. Castle (2009-2016)

I think that some of the previous entries on our list and a great chunk of the actor’s filmography so far prove that no one portrays snark quite as charmingly as Nathan Fillion. That being said, I do not believe he has ever portrayed snark quite as charmingly as when he starred on ABC’s Castle.

He plays the title role of a popular crime novelist whose partnership with feisty, by-the-book detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic), as research for his latest project, becomes more than just professional over time. It is more of a common procedural drama than The Rookie, for sure, but it is easily one of the most clever, fun, and romantic of its kind, made all the more compelling by Fillion and Katic’s electric chemistry.

1. Firefly And Serenity (2002-2003, 2005)

After all these years, the role that remains Nathan Fillion’s best-known and most-loved is Captain Malcolm Reynolds. Not to mention, the character originates from a series that also remains his best-known and most-loved by most fans, despite being cancelled after 11 episodes on Fox.

What makes the premature ending such an especially heartbreaking affair is the refreshingly creative concept behind Firefly: a space Western set centuries into the future and following a group of outsiders traveling the colonized solar system. Luckily, the Serenity crew’s story was given some closure in a spectacular, theatrically released film named after the ship and the franchise’s popularity has only continued to rise in the years since.

So, what do you think? Have we nailed Nathan Fillion’s best movies and TV shows on the head, or would you take Richard Castle over Mal Reynolds any day? Check out the actor's recent 2024 movie, Skincare — which reunites him with Slither's Elizabeth Banks — and, of course, the upcoming DC movie, Superman.

It might be called The Rookie, but this ABC drama is not the new kid on the block, and it’s going to continue to cement itself as a mainstay on TV, because it just got renewed for Season 7. That’s right, following the Nathan Fillion-led drama hitting 100 episodes, they’re going to keep moving forward as their next season joins the ranks of renewed shows on the 2024 TV schedule. Now, the cast is celebrating this exciting news, and we’re so here for it!

Kicking off the excitement, Mekia Cox got on IG to post about the good news. The Nyla Harper actress used lots of lovely emojis to convey her excitement, and what made it even better is the upcoming season is also her lucky number!

Angela Lopez herself, Alyssa Diaz, took to Instagram to celebrate the renewal too. Reposting a news story about the announcement, she made her gratitude known in the caption, writing: 

The woman behind Lucy Chen, Melissa O’Neil -- who like Diaz, Nathan Fillion, Richard T. Jones and Eric Winter, has starred in every episode so far -- posted a cute little selfie on IG to celebrate the news. On top of that, she showed how hyped she was about it in the caption. Celebrating their seventh episode of Season 6 as well as the Season 7 news, the actress wrote in part:

While what happened between Chenford in the last episode of The Rookie was heartbreaking, the actors are taking a moment to bask in this great news before we find out what happens next between Bradford and Chen. Like O’Neil, Eric Winter, who plays Tim Bradford, couldn’t contain his excitement as he wrote:

#letsdothis seems to be the vibe among the whole cast, as Attorney Wesley Evers, aka Shawn Ashmore, reposted the news story too on Instagram. The X-Men actor used all the exclamation points and thanked the fans in his caption, writing:

Along with the sweet words, Ashmore also put The Rookie’s theme song, “Kings & Queens” over the post. Right now, that’s exactly what they should feel like. Getting renewed for a seventh season is a huge deal.

Of course, this news comes on the heels of the tragic cancellation of The Rookie: Feds, which Nathan Fillion called “sobering.” While we’re still mourning that loss, it’s important to celebrate big moments like this one, because it’s massive, and it’ll be so exciting to John Nolan and co. back at it for a seventh season.

As we learn more about the upcoming seventh season of The Rookie, and Season 6 continues to air, we’ll be sure to keep you posted. When it comes to what you should do while we wait for the “lucky” season, you can stream the ABC drama with a Hulu subscription and catch new episodes on said network on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET.

James Gunn’s Superman movie is currently in production, and while it wouldn’t be shocking if there was a great deal of stress behind the scenes considering how much is riding on the first big screen element of this new DCU and its Gods and Monsters chapter, it seems that co-star Nathan Fillion is working on keeping things light. How? By screwing around with his friend and director, and then denying he’s up to anything at all.

James Gunn recently posted an image on Instagram of some stickers that have been floating around behind the camera of the new Superman movie. They contain Gunn’s face and the initials WWJGD, or What Would James Gunn Do? These stickers are, according to Gunn, the work of one Nathan Fillion. As he posted…

Nathan Fillion is set to play Green Lantern Guy Gardner in the Superman cast, and the Firefly and Castle star is a friend of Gunn's who has appeared in several of the director’s projects dating back to his horror film Slither. It’s not shocking that Fillion, who is known to have a sense of humor, would mess with his buddy this way.

Having said that, Nathan Fillion is, not very convincingly, denying anything to do with the WWJGD stickers. In a comment on Gunn’s Instagram post, Fillion points out that anybody could have made the stickers, and that there is apparently no direct evidence that he did it. Fillion said…

While we have really no idea just what we’re going to get out of the upcoming DC movie quite yet, it seems clear that the cast and crew are already having a lot of fun making it, and that certainly tends to translate to a better production rather than the alternative. James Gunn has spent a lot of his time denying Superman movie rumors, something he doesn't seem to enjoy very much. But considering that Superman movie details are few and far between at this point, the void is being filled with speculation.

I was already excited that Nathan Fillion was likely to have a more significant role in Superman. It also certainly looks like he'll have a bigger role in the new DCU than he has had in most recent James Gunn projects, and this just makes me more excited to see the end result.

Also, where does one get a WWJGD? Sticker? I mean, whoever created those stickers could probably make a few bucks if you could buy them online somewhere. I’m certainly interested in getting a few, and considering Gunn's solid track record in recent years, especially as it comes to superhero movies and series, asking the question 'What would James Gunn do?' isn't the worst idea.

Over The Rookie’s 100-episode run, the ABC procedural has seen its fair share of guest stars, some of which have marked Castle reunions for Nathan Fillion. Though perhaps one of the more memorable guests has to be former Saturday Night Live cast member Pete Davidson. The funnyman notably played the brother of Fillion's John Nolan, Pete, in three episodes. While Fillion and Davidson seem to be good buddies off camera, the former was actually "embarrassed and ashamed" upon meeting his on-screen sibling for the first time. 

Pete Davidson made his first appearance on The Rookie during Season 2 and later appeared in two episodes of Season 4. It’s now hard to imagine Pete Nolan being played by anyone other than Davidson, and it’s always quite the sight to see his dynamic with Nathan Fillion. Of course, the two first met while working on Warner Bros.' The Suicide Squad. Fillion recalled to The Hollywood Reporter that he had some preconceived notions about the comic ahead of their first encounter, though that ultimately led to some embarrassment for him once they actually crossed paths:

The Suicide Squad was actually the reason for Pete Davidson joining The Rookie. So, had Nathan Fillion and Davidson not gotten along, the latter likely wouldn’t have guest starred. Considering the public persona that the King of Staten Island star has, it's not too surprising that Fillion had ideas of what he might be like. However, it seems like they hit it off once they really got to know each other, and I'm glad Fillion was proven wrong (even if he was a bit "ashamed" in the process). Furthermore, Davidson definitely brings a lot to Pete Nolan, and hilarity always ensues when he rolls into town. 

It's been a while since the Transformers: Rise of the Beasts star was last on the show, as he last appeared in the Season 4 finale. One would have likely hoped that he’d appear in the extravagant 100th episode for John and Bailey’s wedding but, alas, that didn’t happen. It was explained that Skip Tracer Randy had to turn him in for the ungodly amount of unpaid parking tickets Pete had, and he couldn’t make it to the wedding. Hopefully, the wayward Nolan sibling returns soon, because I'm missing him.

Though Pete Davidson has been busy as of late, so it’s not surprising he wasn’t able to return for the milestone installment. The comedian has four upcoming projects on top of his Peacock series, Bupkis, which was renewed for a second season. He is also busy on his tour, which is definitely taking up a lot of his time. Since Season 6 is shortened due to the strikes, it’s likely Davidson won’t be able to return for it, but the door is certainly open for his return down the road, though. For now though, let's all just take a lesson from Nathan Fillion when it comes to not judging books by covers. It's never good and, in this case, we could've lost out on some great performance from Davidson.

Hulu subscribers can watch all three of the comedian's episodes of The Rookie. And new episodes of the series air on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC as part of the 2024 TV schedule.

The Rookie: Feds was one of the many shows that were cancelled or ended in 2023. The Rookie spinoff starred Niecy Nash as the FBI’s oldest rookie, and it initially seemed like the network had a successful new franchise on its hands. ABC wasn't holding back with the numerous crossovers last season, no matter how big or small they were. Unfortunately, ABC waited several months to give any updates on a potential second season and dropped the bomb of its cancellation not long after the SAG-AFTRA strike ended. Now The Rookie’s Nathan Fillion is opening up about the surprise cancellation.

As the oldest rookies at their respective jobs, John Nolan and Simone Clark immediately hit it off when they first met in the Feds backdoor pilot, and it was definitely always a joy seeing Fillion and Nash working together. With The Rookie part of the 2024 TV schedule without its spinoff, Fillion told The Hollywood Reporter how the Feds cancellation made him more grateful, even if it came at a cost:

It definitely makes you think. The Rookie: Feds was not the only casualty of the strikes, as fellow ABC series Home Economics got the axe and The Good Doctor's spinoff didn't move forward. As for The Rookie, the series just aired its milestone 100th episode and as of now, there is no indication that it will be slowing down any time soon. It’s still a shame that ABC wasn’t able to build up The Rookie as its next great franchise, but it sounds like Fillion is not taking his job for granted. 

Last month, The Rookie: Feds co-creator Alexi Hawley addressed the cancellation and shared his disappointment. He admitted that ABC had been “nothing but supportive” of both shows, but consolidation is happening across the whole industry, and Feds was just an unfortunate casualty. It’s unknown if the series would have been renewed if not for the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, but fans can surely agree that The Rookie: Feds shouldn't have been cancelled after one season.

As of now, there’s no word on whether any Feds characters will show up on The Rookie, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Since both shows were set in LA, it could be fairly straightforward storyline-wise for the LAPD to work a case with FBI. Hopefully, that happens, even if it is a one-off.

Fans will just have to tune in to The Rookie on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC to see if any of their favorites from The Rookie: Feds will make an appearance. It’s always a possibility and would be a great way to keep their stories going even when the show is cancelled.

A new era is dawning for Warner Bros.’ DC Comics’ film franchise, as the DCU continuity is currently being developed. James Gunn, the co-head of DC Studios has been spearheading the creative efforts and is writing and directing the fictional universe’s first film, Superman: Legacy. Behind-the-scenes details on the highly anticipated are steadily being revealed, and fans are still champing at the bit for more information. Nathan Fillion, who is set to play Green Lantern Guy Gardner in the movie, revealed how it’s coming together ahead of that 2025 release date. And, quite frankly, I’m pumped!

The fan-favorite actor was present at a panel for the Television Critics Association, where he was promoting ABC The Rookie (which will not be impacted by his DC casting). He caught up with ET, who asked about his work on the upcoming superhero movie. The Firefly alum didn’t go into specifics about what’s to come. He did, however, explain that the Superman: Legacy cast will be convening in Atlanta soon and that a table read is set to happen next week.

Nathan Fillion also mentioned one little detail that also has me excited. While chatting with the news outlet, he revealed he’ll be undergoing his costume fittings soon. A number of fans have long wanted to see Fillion suit up to play a Lantern, so the fact that he’s now about to try on his suit is nothing short of exciting. I’m very curious as to what the costume is going to look like. Though with Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Endgame veteran Judianna Makovsky handling the threads, I'm sure the suit will be a sight to behold.

All in all, the Canadian actor is “excited” for fans to see what James Gunn has in store with this particular Man of Steel story. What’s been promised thus far is a fresh – yet faithful – take on the mythos. Being a fan of Supes and Gunn myself, I can’t wait to see what he and his collaborators end up doing. 

What we know about Superman: Legacy, at this point, is that it won’t be an origin story for the eponymous character. However, it will focus on a younger interaction of the hero, who’s still in the early days of his career as a costumed do-gooder. James Gunn has mentioned on multiple occasions that his version of the Big Blue Boy Scout will take inspiration from Christopher Reeve’s version. In addition to the usual supporting characters that are in Clark Kent’s orbit, the story will also bring in other heroes including the aforementioned Lantern, Hawkgirl, Mr. Terrific and more. 

One of the elements of this production that is most impressive to me is the roster of stars that the writer/director has managed to assemble. Leading the ensemble is David Corensweat as Clark Kent, and he’s not only joined by Nathan Fillion but by Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane), Nicholas Hoult (Lex Luthor) and Isabela Merced (Hawkgirl), just to name a few. Oh, if I could be a fly on the wall when that table read happens.

It’s great to hear that progress is moving right along on the first theatrical installment in the DCU’s God and Monsters chapter. The expectations are high, but I’m hopeful that the cast and crew will be able to meet (or even exceed) them. Here’s hoping production goes well when it kicks off a little later this year for Nathan Fillion and co.!

Superman: Legacy is set to open in theaters on July 11, 2025. In the meantime, you can stream past DC movies using a Max subscription.

For everything we know about the new DCU under James Gunn, there’s a lot that’s still a mystery. We know we will be getting a new Superman and a new Batman, but the fate of other characters like Wonder Woman and Aquaman are a bit more nebulous. The same goes for the likes of Black Adam and Shazam, though Zachary Levi says that he’s more than willing to return to play the latter character. And he even has ideas about who in the new DCU he could team up with.

The second Shazam! Movie, Fury of the Gods was one of the movies that was released after the announcement that James Gunn and Peter Safran were rebooting the DC Films universe. Zachary Levi himself has said he doesn’t know what his future may be, but he tells Comicbook.com that he wants to continue with the character, and would even like to see Shazam team up with Green Lantern. Levi said…

We know that Fillion will appear in Gunn’s Superman: Legacy as Green Lantern Guy Gardner, one of several DC characters who will appear in the first DCU big screen project. It’s certainly an enticing team-up. Fillion’s characters usually have a solid sense of humor at their core, which could make a Green Lantern/Shazam team work quite nicely if we ever see it.

While we know that many roles in upcoming DC movies are being rebooted and recast, that’s not the case with all. It’s been confirmed that Xolo Maridueña’s Blue Beetle will be part of the DCU, and so without a firm confirmation that Shazam is getting rebooted, the possibility he could stay is very real.

And Levi himself has a good relationship with the new architects of the new DCU. Peter Safran produced the Shazam! movies and Levi also knows Gunn well. The actor auditioned to play Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy and reportedly got close to the role before Chris Pratt was cast. Levi has said that the failed Guardians audition ultimately helped him land Shazam!

Dwayne Johnson, who played Shazam’s comic book arch-enemy, Black Adam, has also spoken about the fact that there is no future for him in the DCU, at least right now, as there are simply no plans for the character. When and if that changes, we could potentially see him back as well.

Until we hear that characters are being rebooted and roles are being recast, it’s at least possible that the current actors playing DC characters could do so in the new universe. There are some great performances that it would be a shame to lose. Fans will just have to play the waiting game and see what happens. 

As filming commences on TV shows following the end of the strikes, Hollywood is finally able to get back to normal. While said series will be getting shorter seasons because of the delays, The Rookie will still be able to celebrate a huge milestone. The ABC procedural is in the midst of filming Season 6, with Episode 100 coming, they're celebrating in a chaotic way that’s fit perfect for the drama.

One-half of Chenford and Lucy Chen actress Melissa O’Neil, took to Instagram to share a very fun and emotional BTS video from the 100th episode celebration. With a tiny microphone in hand, the actress went around to her co-stars, including Nathan Fillion, Jenna Dewan, Eric Winter, Alyssa Diaz, Richard T. Jones, Mekia Cox, Lisseth Chavez, and Tru Valentino, to get their input on the big milestone. While some shared their appreciation, others took the opportunity to either act like a reporter or pretend the mic was being cut out, and it was all-around hilarious:

It wasn’t all laughs, however, as O’Neil made sure to tell the fans how much they mean to her and her co-stars, and she stressed that they reached this milestone because of them, along with the cast and crew, that The Rookie has managed to make it so long. The video also shows how close and comfortable they are with each other, and it makes me want another 100 episodes.

As of now, 98 episodes of The Rookie have aired, meaning that Season 6, Episode 2 will be the big milestone. There is no telling how it will go down, but it all depends on how the series resolves its bloody Season 5 finale and cliffhanger that saw Valentino’s Aaron Thorsen on the brink of death. The fact that he is part of the 100-episode celebration video could be a good sign. Either that or it would be harsh for them to cut him out of the event if he had just died in the premiere. It’s unpredictable, but luckily, fans won’t have to wait too much longer to both find out what happens next and celebrate 100 episodes. 

ABC renewed The Rookie for Season 6 back in April, and Nathan Fillion shared a touching message on Instagram. He said he “couldn’t be more proud of this how, and I couldn’t be happier about coming back for another season.” It’s been a long wait for the new season, and even though The Rookie: Feds won’t be coming back, at least The Rookie is staying strong.

The Rookie Season 6 will premiere on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 9 p.m. ET on ABC as part of the 2024 TV schedule. The 100th episode will be premiering the following week, and it’s going to be a milestone you won’t want to miss. There is no telling what will happen, but it should be full of chaos, just like Melissa O’Neil’s video.

The SAG-AFTRA actors’ strike still happening, and actors may be discouraged from dressing up for Halloween as their favorite Hollywood characters this year. However, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with taking inspiration from your favorite actors in daily life like Nathan Fillion seems to be doing. As The Rookie star, alongside the greater actor community, is taking some time off from playing his usual roles, he recently debuted a very Tom Selleck-like mustache, and he’s really leaning into the look. 

Fillion was spotted joining actors on the picket line earlier this month in front of Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California. Check him out: 

If you’re not yet sold on the Tom Selleck of it all, you should watch Fillion’s fun impression of the Magnum P.I. and Blue Bloods star on his Instagram. While the actor is surely bored at the moment without Season 6 of The Rookie to film after its renewal earlier this year, Fillion has started to do a few impressions alongside his very fun 'stache. Take a look: 

Yep… actors must be going through it right now without their typical schedule on set to fill their time. Ahead of the SAG-AFTRA strike going into effect back in July, Nathan Fillion’s ABC action series went into its Season 5 finale in the spring with great news regarding its future. The network announced development on a sixth season, which we imagine he would have been hard at work on over the summer and premiering on the 2023 TV schedule if the strikes hadn't happened. When the announcement was made, Fillion shared that he “couldn’t be more proud” to be part of The Rookie and returning for another season. 

Considering Fillion is all about the police crime procedural, it’s not a stretch that he might want to emulate Mr. Tom Selleck, especially considering the actor’s own background in acting. Selleck, of course, iconically played private investigator Thomas Magnum in the ‘80s hit Magnum P.I. before coming back to CBS for Blue Bloods, which has been on the air for 13 seasons now. Blue Bloods was renewed as well, but has not filmed its 14th season due to the strikes. Rumors did swirl about the 78-year-old having “pain and agony” on the set of Season 13, but his rep denied it. 

In addition to Fillion being all about mustaches and crime TV shows, the actor is set to be part of James Gunn’s Superman: Legacy cast as Guy Gardner/Green Lantern. He’ll join David Corenswet’s Superman, Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane, Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi’s Mr. Terrific and Anthony Carrigan’s Metamorpho. You can check out recent fan art of Fillion as the DC character that James Gunn got behind as he started working on one of the highly anticipated upcoming DC movies. 

Nathan Fillion’s mustache era is quite random, but hey, if you were off work for an extended period of time, you might experiment with facial hair too! You can catch up on The Rookie with a Hulu subscription and stay up to date on the SAG-AFTRA strike here on CinemaBlend. 

For all the debates that could be had about the merits of James Gunn ushering in a new Kryptonian superhero with Superman: Legacy, I’m firmly in the club who believes the project is 100% worth it based solely on Nathan Fillion’s Green Lantern being part of the stacked cast list headed up by lead David Corenswet. While I wish I had a ring powerful enough to create a finished version of the film far ahead of its July 11, 2025 release date, I’ll just have to make do with some excellent comic-inspired fan art depicting not just Fillion’s Bronze Age hero, but also Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl, Anthony Carrigan’s Metamorpho, and Edi Gathegi’s Mister Terrific.

Always one to give a nod to his ever-growing fanbase, James Gunn took to Stories on his Instagram page to share a pair of fan art pieces highlighting artist Davi Alves’ super-cool takes on Superman: Legacy’s supporting cast of heroes, specifically Fillion’s Guy Gardner and Merced’s mace-wielding warrior. 

The text in the art above is a direct reference to Guy Gardner’s first comic book appearance in 1969’s Green Lantern #59, and also plays into why Nathan Fillion is such a great choice for that Lantern in particular. Guy has often been an overly egotistical twerp, for all his heroics, and Fillion is great at portraying just such characters whose confidence outweighs intelligence.

• RELATED: Superman: Legacy: Release Date, Cast And Other Things We Know About James Gunn's DCU Movie

Best known for her starring roles in Sicario: Day of the Soldado and Dora and the Lost City of Gold, Isabela Merced is set to make her superhero debut as Hawkgirl for James Gunn’s DCU-anchoring film. And I’m pumped to see the character getting her due on the big screen with the actress in the role, especially with this fan art offering an idea of what we might see.  

For all that I’m looking forward to both of the above stars’ arrivals as their respective heroes, I’m all the more enthused about the comic cover art paying tribute to Justified and House vet Edi Gathegi’s vastly intelligent Mister Terrific — as well as Dave Gibbons’ cover art for 1970’s JSA #70 — as well as Barry and Gotham alum Anthony Carrigan as the transmutational hero Metamorpho. Check out those pieces below, as shared by the artist. 

Both characters have popped up across a slew of DC animated projects over the years, but this will be their first official live-action appearances, though Arrow did feature Echo Kellum as a remixed version of M.T. named Curtis Holt. I can’t wait to see two DC introductions led by actors in their 40s, which perhaps speaks to my own age, but more to the point, I know that Gathegi and Carrigan will destroy those roles because of their talents and experience. 

I would have watched a whole spinoff just based on the latter’s sadistic and masochistic Victor Zsasz on Gotham, so seeing him as the offbeat Metamorpho will no doubt be a unique DCU treat. And For All Mankind fans know what Gathegi looks like playing a brainiac for his Season 3 portrayal of engineer Dev Ayesa.

Superman: Legacy isn't the only upcoming DC movie that we're ironing our capes for, but we're already ready to line up (meta-mo-phorically speaking) for its July 11, 2025 release.

It’s no secret that comic book movies are everywhere. The genre continues to be a powerful force, resulting in a number of shared universes competing for box office supremacy. DC has been going through a number of changes thanks to the new co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran. The new version of the DC Universe will begin with Superman: Legacy, which is being written and directed by Gunn. And Nathan Fillion becomes Green Lantern Guy Gardener in some epic fan art for the upcoming DC movie.

Anticipation is steadily building for that DC flick as James Gunn has been assembling Superman: Legacy’s cast. A number of DC heroes will be joining the Man of Steel, and his frequent collaborator Nathan Fillion will be playing a member of the Green Lantern Corps.. Fans are eager to see how Guy Gardener will be brought to life, and if he’ll have that signature haircut from the comics. Now we can see what he might look like in the role, thanks to fan art that’s circulating on Instagram. Check it out below:

Honestly, I’m sold. Nathan Fillion has had a long career and experience in genre work, so he seems like a great choice to bring Guy Garndner to life in live-action for the first time. This fan art shows that he could pull off the costume, assuming that DC is going with a classic look. Considering how James Gunn is a comic superfan, I have to assume that’s the route he’ll go.

The above fan art comes to us from the Instagram of artist named Nathan who goes by the handle  Horrific Heroics. They’ve amassed thousands of followers thanks to his renderings of popular superhero franchises like the DCU. And while we wait for official news from Superman: Legacy, this art should help hold the fandom over.

Of course, fans are wondering exactly how the various heroes of Superman: Legacy will affect its narrative. In addition to Green Lantern, we’ll also be getting live-action versions of Hawkgirl, Mister Terrific, and Metamorpho. James Gunn denied that he was pressured into including more heroes, and insists they’re essential to the story. 

James Gunn definitely turned heads when it was revealed that he was starting the new DCU with Superman: Legacy. After Henry Cavill returned for a cameo in Black Adam and announced he was back as Clark Kent, Gunn made a different story that required a new actor. Although we still don’t know who will play the title role of that DC flick. 

Superman: Legacy is currently expected to arrive in theaters on July 11th, 2025. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

The cast of James Gunn’s Superman: Legacy is growing with non-Flash quickness, with one of the most exciting additions coming in the form of Gunn’s buddy and colleague Nathan Fillion. The Slither vet is set to take on the Green Lantern alter ego of Guy Gardner, quite the popular character from the comics, which has understandably sparked a bit of worry among the actor’s fanbase, wondering if he’s able to balance his superhero antics with his small-screen work on the ABC drama The Rookie, which was renewed for its sixth season back in April. Not many people could directly speak to this issue, but Rookie co-creator Alexi Hawley spoke up after coming across such speculation on social media.

Hawley came across a news story on Twitter that questioned whether Fillion joining Superman: Legacy would cause any troubles or delays with his commitments to the broadcast network series, and responded to the question with blunt excitement:

One has to assume that those putting together the casting deals for James Gunn’s next DC effort were wise enough to make sure the actors would be free to film without any other projects being unfairly ignored. And considering this is a movie about Supes, Guy Gardner’s presence probably isn’t a necessity for the entire stretch from opening to credits. So I’d imagine his schedule was set up with idealized blocks for filming that wouldn’t butt up against The Rookie’s production schedule. 

All that said, Alexi Hawley’s take on the situation could change drastically over time, depending on how the upcoming months play out. Not just due to general Hollywood chaos, but specifically because of the ongoing WGA writers strike that kicked off in May, as well as the SAG-AFTRA strike that was set in motion in the first half of July. Without any unionized writers or actors currently able to utilize their efforts, and without any perceived ending for the pair of strikes, it’s somewhat impossible to predict what the next steps will be. 

Already, ABC’s fall schedule is similar to other networks in that it’s a sea of unscripted content, from Bachelor Nation content to Celebrity Jeopardy! and Celebrity Wheel of Fortune to the linear return of Dancing with the Stars. So already, it’s clear we won’t be seeing The Rookie following up on its Season 5 finale when the fall arrives. As such, harboring a small sliver of cynical suspicion is perfectly healthy for fans, since it’s likely a slew of projects will jump immediately into gear (or back into gear) once strike deals are made. 

In a case like that, will The Rookie necessarily need to postpone filming for Season 6 until it doesn’t clash with Fillion’s superhero work? Or is it the flip side, where his Rookie contract takes precedence, so that his Green Lantern work will need to be filmed during his relatively few off days?

For now, it’s probably best to leave those worries for the future, and to keep the faith that there’s enough Nathan Fillion to go all the way around and back. And if not, maybe Guy Gardner can use his ring to summon up another version of the actor. But then if that’s the case, he might as well make a third copy who’d be able to film Firefly Season 2. Can that ring make a whole other season of TV?

Although there was a brief period in time when it looked like we’d be seeing more of Henry Cavil’s Superman following his cameo in Black Adam, by December 2022, it was revealed this wasn’t the case at all. Instead, DC Comics’ Man of Steel is being rebooted again as part of the new DC Universe’s Chapter One slate, which was revealed in January 2023. Once known as Superman: Legacy, this movie is now simply called Superman. Although it won’t be the first DC Universe project, with that honor belonging to the Creature Commandos animated series being released to Max subscribers, DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran have said they consider Legacy to be the “true beginning” of this shared continuity.

Speaking of Gunn, along with writing the script, he’s also directing Superman, making this his third time directly helming a DC project, following The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker. While the specific plot is being kept under wraps, along with a handful of story details being shared, we’ve also been learning who will comprise the main cast. So let’s go over which actors have boarded Superman, starting with the man taking over as The Last Son of Krypton.

David Corenswet

After actors like Pierson Fodé, Nicholas Hoult and Tom Brittney were said to be in the running for the role, David Corenswet was ultimately selected to play the new Superman. Needless to say this will be Corenswet’s biggest film appearance yet, with his prior credits in that area including Affairs of State, The Sunlit Night, Look Both Ways and Pearl, as well as upcoming offerings like Twisters and The Greatest Hits. He’s also built a solid TV resume, appearing in The Politician, Hollywood, We Own This City and the upcoming Lady in the Lake.

Although Corenswet’s Superman is younger than Henry Cavill’s, the new Superman movie will take a cue from The Batman by introducing him as an established superhero and forgo showing any aspects of his origin story. On February 29, 2024, we got the first look at the 'S' insignia on Corenswet's Superman suit, and that was followed by the full look at his costume in May.

Rachel Brosnahan

Rachel Brosnahan’s casting in Superman was announced at the same time as David Corenswet’s, and if you’re like our own Riley Utley, you agree that she’s the perfect choice to play Lois Lane. Brosnahan is best known for playing Midge Maisel in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, though before that, she caught attention for her roles on House of Cards and Manhattan, among other shows. Film-wise, she’s appeared in The Finest Hours, Patriots Day, Spies in Disguise and The Courier, to name a few.

When we meet Brosnahan’s Lois in Legacy, she and Clark Kent already know each other, although it’s unclear if their relationship is purely professional or if they’ve moved to building a more personal dynamic.

Nathan Fillion

Not only has David Corenswet’s Superman been protecting people for a while when we meet him in Superman, he’s one of many superheroes already active in the DC Universe. The first we’ll bring up is Green Lantern, who will be played by Nathan Fillion. However, rather than playing Hal Jordan, whom he’s been fan-cast as for years and voiced in numerous animated DC movies, the star of ABC’s The Rookie will instead play Guy Gardner, who has a more arrogant and abrasive personality.

It’s also important to mention that while Guy is not expected to be one of the leads in the Lanterns Max series, James Gunn said Fillion will play the character "in all parts of the DCU," indicating this won't be his sole appearance. This is the latest of Fillion’s collaborations with Gunn, and the second time he’s appearing in one of his DC movies, having previously played TDK in The Suicide Squad.

Isabela Merced

Isabela Merced has appeared in many major Hollywood productions over the last decade, including Transformers: The Last Knight, Sicario: Day of the Soldado, Dora and the Lost City of Gold, the 2022 Father of the Bride remake and Rosaline. Well, along with leading the next Alien movie and having made her first foray into the superhero genre with Madame Web, Merced will also lend her talents to Superman as Hawkgirl. It’s unclear if this Hawkgirl will be the Shiera Sanders Hall, Shayera Holt or Kendra Saunders version.

Edi Gathegi

You may remember Edi Gathegi from X-Men: First Class for playing Darwin, the mutant with the ability of reactive evolution, i.e. being able to survive practically anything… who was then promptly killed by Kevin Bacon’s Sebastian Shaw. Others might know Gathegi better from projects like three of the Twilight movies, The Harder They Fall, House, The Blacklist and For All Mankind.

For Superman, he’ll be playing the Michael Holt incarnation of Mr. Terrific, who’s been described in the comics as the third-smartest person in the world and fights crime using technology like his T-Spheres and T-Mask. Gathegi's also gotten quite jacked for the role, so we can likely expect to see him throw a few punches.

Anthony Carrigan

Anthony Carrigan is no stranger to DC Comics lore, having first appeared in two episodes of The Flash as Kyle Nimbus, a.k.a. The Mist, and then recurred as Victor Zsasz on Gotham. There’s no question, though, that Superman is the biggest of the bunch, as he’ll appear in the reboot as Metamorpho. Unlike Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl and Mr. Terrific, this will be Metamorpho’s first time being depicted in live-action. These days, Carrigan is best known for his Emmy-nominated role as NoHo Hank in Barry, and he’s also starred in movies like Bill & Ted: Face the Music and Fatherhood.

María Gabriela De Faría

Best known for playing Maria Salazar in the short-lived Syfy series Deadly Class, María Gabriela de Faría is stepping back into the comic book media space to play Angela Spica, a.k.a. The Engineer, in Superman. De Faría’s character is said to be part of a team of villains in Superman, and Angela started out in the comics as a member of The Authority, who have their own movie slated for the DC Universe franchise.

So perhaps this new Superman movie will show Clark Kent clashing with The Authority over ideological differences, and then the team will be depicted more sympathetically when the time comes for them to lead their own story.

Nicholas Hoult

Nicholas Hoult was reportedly among the final contenders to play Superman in this new movie, and while David Corenswet ended up scoring the role, Hoult will still get to participate in Superman. It was reported in November 2023 that James Gunn selected the actor to play Lex Luthor, and by the following month, the filmmaker confirmed that Hoult would indeed play the Man of Steel’s chrome-domed arch-nemesis.

This will be Nicholas Hoult's second major superhero movie role, as he previously played Hank McCoy, a.k.a. Beast, in the “First Class”-era X-Men movies. He also has history with Warner Bros. from having starred in Mad Max: Fury Road with Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron. Gunn debuted Hoult's bald head for his time as Lex Luthor in late February 2024, and now we wait to see how he'll look fully in character.

Skyler Gisondo

Jimmy Olsen is one of the few people who’s important to both Superman’s superhero and civilian life, as he not only works alongside Clark Kent as The Daily Planet’s photographer, he’s also affectionately nicknamed Superman’s Pal. It’d be weird to have a new Superman movie without Jimmy being involved, so fortunately, we don’t have to worry about that. Skyler Gisondo from The Righteous Gemstones, Santa Clarita Diet, Fairfax and more has been cast as Superman's Jimmy, although it’s unclear if this version of the character will be aware that Clark and Supes are one and the same.

Sara Sampaio

Although she’s mainly known for her Victoria’s Secret work, model Sara Sampaio does have some acting experience under her belt, which includes appearing in an episode of Billions. Needless to say that Superman marks her biggest platform to perform on yet, and she’ll do so as Eve Tesmacher, who’s usually depicted as Lex Luthor’s assistant/moll. Sampaio is the second actress to play Miss Tesmacher on film, following Valerie Perrine in the first two Christopher Reeve-led Superman movies, and Andrea Brooks played her in the Supergirl TV show.

Terence Rosemore

Lex Luthor will also be joined in whatever scheme he has cooking during Superman: Legacy by Otis, the henchman whom Ned Beatty originated in the first two Christopher Reeve Superman movies, and was later played on TV by Malcolm Stewart in Smallville, Robert Baker in Supergirl and Ryan Booth in Superman & Lois. James Gunn sneakily revealed on Instagram that Terence Rosemore is bringing the character to life this time around; the two have previously worked together on The Suicide Squad, The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. You may also recognize Rosemore from projects like Just Mercy, Outer Banks, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty and Haunted Mansion.

Wendell Pierce

Since we're getting Clark Kent, Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen working at The Daily Planet, then naturally their boss was going to have to come along for this ride. Wendell Pierce has been cast to play Perry White, the newspaper's editor-in-chief, in Superman. Along with having starred with John Krasinski in Jack Ryan, Pierce is known from shows like The Wire, Suits and The Odd Couple, as well as movies like Malcolm X, Ray, Selma and Clemency.

Pruitt Taylor Vince

Per The Wrap, Pruitt Taylor Vince will play Jonathan Kent, Clark Kent’s adoptive father, in Superman. This will be Vince’s second time appearing in a DC Comics movie, the first being 2005’s Constantine, and fourth comic book project overall, as he previously recurred in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and The Walking Dead. Furthermore, he got to play around in a world filled with superpowers through 2015’s Heroes Reborn, but his more recent credits include Bird Box, Stranger Things and The Blacklist.

Neva Howell

One day after Pruitt Taylor Vince’s casting was reported, The Wrap then shared that Neva Howell has been cast as Martha Kent, Jonathan’s wife and Clark’s adoptive mother. Howell’s body of work includes Beckinfield, Mercy Street, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul, Logan Lucky and The Originals.

Saturday Night Live alum Beck Bennett was confirmed to be appearing in Superman by THR and other outlets after a photo surfaced of him with other members of the cast and crew. James Gunn confirmed on Instagram that Bennett is playing Steve Lombard, a sports reporter for The Daily Planet.

Mikaela Hoover

Mikaela Hoover already has experience being directed by James Gunn, as she played The Collector’s assistant in Guardians of the Galaxy, voiced Floor the Rabbit in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and played a character named Camila in The Suicide Squad. For Superman, she’ll play Cat Grant, another Daily Planet reporter who started out as a gossip columnist in the comics, so presumably that’ll be her position in the movie too.

Christopher McDonald

No, the guy who played Shooter McGavin in Happy Gilmore and Goose McKenzie in Grease 2 is not joining Superman. This Christopher McDonald is a newcomer, so evidently James Gunn and his casting team saw something special in him to set this as his cinematic debut. McDonald will play Ron Troupe, another reporter at The Daily Planet who becomes romantically involved with Lois’ sister Lucy in the comics.

Frank Grillo

In June 2024, it was revealed that Creature Commandos characters will appear in Superman, and thanks to leaked set photos and a statement from Frank Grillo on Instagram, Rick Flag Sr. is the first of this bunch to be confirmed. This will be Flag's first live-action DCU appearance, and Grillo is also reprising the character for Peacemaker Season 2. Judging by these early looks, without going into detailed spoilers, it doesn't look like Flag and Superman will be on the same side, though that doesn't necessarily make him an outright villain.

Superman is positioned on the upcoming DC movies schedule for a July 11, 2025 release, so periodically check back here to see what other actors have been added to the cast.

Season 5 of The Rookie ended on a couple of cliffhangers back in the spring, but now there’s a big question about the upcoming sixth season that has nothing to do with whether Thorsen will recover and what the bad guys have planned for Los Angeles. Star Nathan Fillion has reportedly been cast to play Green Lantern Guy Gardner in the highly-anticipated Superman: Legacy. While that’s great news for fans of the actor who have been wanting to see him as a Green Lantern in live-action after voicing one in various animated movies, fans of The Rookie may have reason to worry about John Nolan's screentime in Season 6. 

Nathan Fillion hasn’t commented one way or the other about Superman: Legacy at the time of writing, although he did express his excitement about the sixth season when The Rookie was renewed. So, for now, let’s look at what we do know so far about both The Rookie and the upcoming Man of Steel movie to see what we can deduce about Season 6. 

The Rookie Season 6 Is Scheduled For 2024

Even though ABC announced a renewal for The Rookie Season 6 early in the spring season, the network revealed just weeks later that the show was being pushed back to a midseason rather than fall premiere. ABC has instead filled its fall lineup with unscripted options due to the WGA writers strike, which is still ongoing. The earliest we may be able to hope for to see payoff on the Season 5 finale cliffhangers is early 2024, which could be complicated by the news about Nathan Fillion. 

Superman: Legacy Begins Production In Early 2024

Although confirmed Superman: Legacy details are relatively few and far between at this point, director James Gunn revealed in a Wired interview that the film would start shooting in January. If Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner has a significant role in the film, then it’s possible he won’t be available for full-time series regular duties on The Rookie. It is worth noting that Guy Gardner is not one of the heroes slated to be a lead in Max’s Lanterns TV series, so signing on to play a Green Lantern for Superman: Legacy doesn’t mean Fillion signing on to star in a show.

The Rookie Has A Strong Ensemble

If Superman: Legacy does indeed have a big enough role for Nathan Fillion that he has to step away from his usual workload on The Rookie, the ABC show has a strong ensemble surrounding John Nolan. Other characters could simply step into the spotlight more often while Nolan was MIA for some reason. I know Chenford fans wouldn’t complain about seeing more of Tim and Lucy, for example! 

Plus, the cliffhanger at the end of Season 5 didn’t set up a huge new storyline for Nolan specifically, so I for one am not too worried about the future of the show, whether or not we’ll get less of Fillion during Season 6. At the time of writing, there’s no confirmation that playing a superhero would require the star to step away from John Nolan, so we can unfortunately only wait and see. 

In fact, if there’s anything regarding the Rookie universe to worry about, I would say that it’s the fact that The Rookie: Feds hasn’t yet been renewed even months after the Season 1 finale, although star Niecy Nash was feeling good about it back in June. For now, fans can always spend summer hiatus revisiting both shows, with The Rookie and The Rookie: Feds available streaming with a Hulu subscription.

As the first movie in the new DC Universe, there was already a lot of hype surrounding Superman: Legacy before today, and that only increased a couple weeks ago with the reveal that David Corenswet will play the next cinematic Man of Steel. However, today brings some particularly surprising news about the upcoming DC movie. Three well-known superheroes from DC lore have reportedly been cast for the reboot, and that includes Nathan Fillion finally being cast as Green Lantern… though not the one many of you are assuming.

This casting update comes from Vanity Fair, which shared that along with the star of ABC’s The Rookie donning the emerald ring of willpower for Superman: Legacy, Dora and the Lost City of Gold’s Isabela Merced has been cast as Hawkgirl, and The Harder They Fall’s Edi Gathegi will play Mr. Terrific. It was also noted regarding Fillion that even though he’s appearing as a Green Lantern, he won’t necessarily be the DCU's Green Lantern (more on that in a bit). Both Merced and Gathegi have prior superhero movie experience under their belt already, with the former playing an undisclosed role in the upcoming Madame Web, and the latter appearing as Darwin in X-Men: First Class.

As far as Nathan Fillion is concerned, for years, many fans have wanted to see him play Hal Jordan, the role previously played by Ryan Reynolds in 2011’s Green Lantern. While Fillion did go on to voice Hal in a handful of animated, direct-to-video DC movies, that’s not who he’ll play in Superman: Legacy. Instead, the actor has been cast as Guy Gardner, who was Hal’s first replacement for the Green Lantern Corps in the comics, and is well known for his abrasive personality, something that Fillion is quite skilled at showing off in roles.

This will be Fillion’s last collaboration with director James Gunn, having worked with him stretching all the way back to Slither, and including his brief outing as TDK in the DCEU’s The Suicide Squad, as well as most recently playing Master Carja in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. However, whether we’ll see more of Fillion’s Guy Gardner after Superman: Legacy is unclear. Looking over the DC Universe’s Chapter One slate, you’ll see that one of the TV shows coming to Max subscribers is Lanterns, which will follow Hal Jordan and John Stewart investigating a mystery on Earth. So while it’d be easy enough to throw Guy into the mix with his Green Lantern cohorts in a supporting or cameoing capacity, there’s also the possibility that something happens in Superman: Legacy that takes him off the board, either temporarily or permanently.

As for the other two superheroes, while it’s unclear which version of Hawkgirl Isabela Merced is playing, Edi Gathegi will be playing the Michael Holt incarnation of Mr. Terrific, who was the second man to hold that mantle in the comics (following Terry Sloane) and uses various gadgets to fight crime, including his floating T-spheres. As with Fillion’s Guy Gardner, we don’t know at the moment how much we’ll see of these characters in Superman: Legacy. Regardless, their inclusions will make it even clearer to audiences that this is a world where superheroes have been around for a while rather than just starting to emerge.

Along with these castings, it’s been reported that members of The Authority will appear in Superman: Legacy ahead of their own movie, but that has yet to be officially confirmed. Rachel Brosnahan has also come aboard to play Lois Lane, and brothers Alexander and Bill Skarsgård are rumored to be in contention for the Lex Luthor role. Legacy arrives in theaters on July 11, 2025, so keep visiting CinemaBlend for more news on the reboot’s progress.

Nathan Fillion was once best known in TV for his roles on Firefly and Castle, but he’s spent the last several years starring in another successful show with The Rookie on ABC. With the end of the 2022-2023 TV season approaching, the time had come for fans to start wondering if Fillion's John Nolan would have a primetime future beyond the current Season 5. Luckily, fans can stop wondering, because ABC has officially renewed The Rookie for Season 6, and the star had some touching words to celebrate the good news. 

Nathan Fillion’s show has not only succeeded in the current TV season after launching Niecy Nash’s The Rookie: Feds as a spinoff, but thrived after making the move from its longtime home on Sunday nights over to early primetime on Tuesdays. It was evidently a recipe for success, and the star took to Instagram with a message about the Season 6 renewal: 

Of course, Nathan Fillion – who is an executive producer as well as star – would have more of an idea than most about what could happen in Season 6, but he shared his interest in learning what fans have in mind for beyond Season 5. Many fans chimed in with theories, while some of Fillion’s co-stars had comments of their own on his post. Jenna Dewan, who has worked with Fillion since joining The Rookie to play Bailey Nune in Season 3, wrote: 

Jenna Dewan also wasn't the only one of Nathan Fillion’s fellow cast members with thoughts to share in the comment section. Shawn Ashmore, whose Wesley Evers is a very different character than the one that he played on The Boys, commented: 

The renewal for Season 6 means that The Rookie will hit its milestone 100th episode in the fall, assuming the drama is back in September as per usual. With an order for 22 episodes in Season 5, the show will end the current season at a total of 98 episodes. If ABC decides to celebrate, then Season 6 could be off to a very exciting start with the first couple episodes! 

The renewal isn’t altogether shocking. Although The Rookie previously only impressed in the ratings when delayed totals could be counted, that’s no longer the case. Deadline reports that the drama ranks highly in the 8 p.m. ET time slot on Tuesdays in the key 18-49 age demographic, and is among the top five most-viewed scripted series on ABC. 

So, while the renewal for Season 6 wasn’t quite as early as the Season 5 renewal last year and the show faced the challenge of handling Nolan’s career move while keeping The Rookie’s title relevant, the order for more episodes isn’t a shock. Still, the good news is worth celebrating for fans as well as Nathan Fillion!

For now, you can still look forward to the remaining episodes of Season 5 on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. You can also revisit earlier episodes of The Rookie now and during summer hiatus with all five seasons available streaming with a Hulu subscription. 

ABC’s cop procedural The Rookie is almost back for its fifth season and, this year, the Nathan Fillion-led series will have some company. The franchise is expanding with the new spinoff, The Rookie: Feds, starring Niecy Nash. And ahead of the new series debut and the season premiere of his own show, Fillion opened up about the one concern he once had about the new show after it got the greenlight.

To promote both Rookie shows, Nathan Fillion and Niecy Nash interviewed each other in a friendly interrogation-like setting for EW. Nash asked the Suicide Squad star how he initially felt about her upcoming show after it was announced. While Fillion was excited, he was also a bit concerned that it would mean his show would lose one of its stars:

It makes sense that Nathan Fillion would be concerned about parting ways with a cast member or two since that tends to happens when TV shows spawn offshoots. For example, a situation that's happened in recent years would be The CW's Riverdale losing Ashleigh Murray's Josie McCoy to Katy Keene. But in the case of The Rookie, that wasn't meant to be the case.

When it was announced that Feds would involve a whole new storyline and new characters, the Firefly alum's concern went away and was overtaken by sheer excitement, which grew even more when it was revealed that Nash would lead the spinoff:

A two-part episode that aired during Season 4 served as a backdoor pilot for the then-potential spinoff. At the time, there were many arguments to be made as to  why the Rookie spinoff should happen and, luckily, ABC soon greenlit the series. I'm interested in seeing how things play out in the new show and just how Niecy Nash’s Simone will perform in the lead.

While the parent show won’t be losing any stars to Feds, there will be small crossovers here and there. And even though it’s unknown as to whether this could turn into the next big law enforcement-centered, TV property, the presence of both of these shows on ABC's fall 2022 schedule is proof that fans are loving this growing franchise.

As for Season 5 of The Rookie, Nathan Fillion also recently discussed how the title will still be relevant following Nolan’s career change, which now sees him serving as a T.O. Fillion mentioned that while Nolan is no longer a rookie officer, he is now a rookie training officer to a new character (played by a Chicago P.D. vet), so it works. With that, he can likely throw some advice Simone’s way since we’ll likely see the two of them work together again soon.

Since The Rookie: Feds is an FBI-centric spinoff, fans shouldn’t have to worry about anyone from OG series moving to the sister show -- unless one of the characters makes a major career change. So, for now, everyone is staying right where they are while the series expands.

Don’t miss the premiere of The Rookie: Feds on Tuesday, September 27 at 10 p.m. EST on ABC! And you can catch the season premiere of The Rookie, tonight, Sunday 25 at 10 p.m. EST. Check out CinemaBlend’s 2022 TV schedule to see learn about the other  new and returning programming that's headed your way.

Season 5 of The Rookie is right around the corner, and it looks to be a good one. The season will see Nathan Fillion’s John Nolan in a different role, as he’ll officially be a training officer and not a rookie. While keeping the title of The Rookie might be a bit hard now that Nolan is not an actual rookie anymore, Fillion addresses how it will stay relevant post-career change.

To promote both The Rookie and new spinoff, The Rookie: Feds, Nathan Fillion and Niecy Nash-Betts interrogated each other during an interview with EW. They discussed their respective shows and crossovers, and when Nash-Betts asked Fillion about what Nolan as a training officer will look like, he previewed just what it would be like and how Nolan will still be a rookie:

While Nolan may not be a rookie in the police department anymore, he is still a rookie when it comes to being a T.O., so seeing how he navigates that and does his own training will be something new. And it sounds like he will still want to make some changes to the department, which could make for some interesting storylines as he is still a rookie. Nathan Fillion and Niecy Nash-Betts went back and forth about it:

• "Sure. It's the beginning of a new chapter in his life." - Niecy Nash-Betts
• "He's a rookie training officer. It works for me." - Nathan Fillion
• "Back at the bottom. Not the bottom, but the beginning. A new beginning." - Nash-Betts

We know how great of an officer Nolan is, and with his different experience coming in as a rookie at such a late time, he definitely has some things to teach whomever he’s training. Chicago P.D. and Legends of Tomorrow vet Lisseth Chavez will be a new rookie in the upcoming season, so how those two will work together will be something to look forward to. 

Meanwhile, Nathan Fillion has been hyping up Season 5 of The Rookie, and it’s even included comments from a former Castle co-star. The upcoming season will also feature Lucy and Tim going undercover as their doppelgängers, where they might finally address the elephant in the room about their relationship. Fans should also expect a crossover or two with Feds, which will make things even more interesting.

Although The Rookie and The Rookie: Feds won’t be teaming up on the same night of ABC’s fall 2022 schedule, it looks like we will keep getting of the stars together, whether it’d be to promote their respective shows or in a crossover. And we definitely know that John Nolan will give Simone Clarke some advice about being the oldest rookie at her job.

Season 5 of The Rookie premieres Sunday, September 25 at 10 p.m. EST on ABC! Check out CinemaBlend’s 2022 TV schedule to see what else to look forward to.

TV fans are getting ready for the long-awaited Fall 2022 TV broadcast season, when a plethora of favorite shows finally return. Among those is ABC’s cop procedural The Rookie, and the stars have made sure to keep fans occupied by dropping behind-the-scenes content of the series and sharing new, official Season 5 content. In showing off the drama's new key art, star Nathan Fillion asked fans something pertaining to the upcoming season, and a Castle co-star of his couldn’t help but to join in with a silly response.

After ABC dropped a new poster for The Rookie, Fillion took to Instagram to have fans tell him three things they're doing to prepare for the new season. While there were plenty of responses from fans listing three things, Castle star Seamus Dever hopped on the train, and it’s pretty funny:

Seamus Dever starred in ABC’s mystery crime drama as Detective Kevin Ryan alongside Nathan Fillion. The two have worked together since the end of the series, as Dever even guest starred on The Rookie in a Season 2 episode. Since Castle’s end in 2016, Dever has done appearances on other shows, including Titans, Legion, and NCIS: LA. He also voiced John Seed in the video game Far Cry 5 in 2018, but it looks like he hasn't forgotten his Castle roots.

Despite Nathan Fillion being the lead of another ABC cop drama, he’s still managed to bring up Castle every once in a while, even if it is to hilariously mourn the series. Aside from Dever’s appearance, there have been other Castle reunions on The Rookie, so maybe there’s more in the future, especially since Dever commented on Fillion's post about the new season.

Meanwhile, Fillion’s The Rookie co-star Shawn Ashmore expressed his excitement for Season 5 by commenting on his post, and the emojis really say it all:

In addition, the official The Rookie account commented and was already clapping for the season:

Season 5 of The Rookie is already shaping up to be a good one, and it’s not just because Chicago P.D. vet Lisseth Chavez has joined the team. It should be interesting to see just what happens in the upcoming season after how the finale ended, including Tim and Lucy going undercover in Las Vegas. Fans will also be getting a second helping of The Rookie when The Rookie: Feds premieres and Niecy Nash-Betts officially joins the expanding universe as star of her own show. 

Don’t miss the Season 5 premiere of The Rookie on Sunday, September 25 at 10 p.m. EST on ABC, and make sure to keep hydrated, stretch, and do deep sea breath training in order to prepare. In the meantime, check out CinemaBlend’s 2022 TV schedule to see what else is coming to a TV near you in the coming months!

The past few years have seen a complete career turnaround for writer and director Joss Whedon, who has been the subject of numerous allegations related to problematic behavior on the set of projects like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Justice League, with actors Gal Gadot, Ray Fisher and Charisma Carpenter among those having the most to say about (and in response to) Whedon. The list of former colleagues who have sided with Whedon’s accusers has grown with time (and includes David Boreanaz and Sarah Michelle Gellar), but don’t count on seeing Nathan Fillion joining that bunch. The Rookie star broke his all-around silence on the matter and spoke with praise of his former Firefly boss.

With Season 4 of his ABC drama having wrapped in May, though not before setting up the Niecy Nash-starring spinoff titled The Rookie: Feds, Nathan Fillion settled in for a solid conversation with Smallville vet Michael Rosenbaum for the latter’s Inside of You podcast. After the topic of Firefly came up, Rosenbaum posed the question of the cancelled-too-soon fave returning in some form without Joss Whedon, which Fillion said would be “heartbreaking,” while questioning how it could happen. 

At this point, Rosenbaum asked for Fillion’s thoughts on the aforementioned controversies involving Joss Whedon, which sparked a very specific response from the Malcolm Reynolds portrayer:

When then asked what his experience with Joss Whedon was like regarding Firefly, here’s now Nathan Fillion responded:

To be clear, in sharing his own feelings about Joss Whedon, Nathan Fillion in no way discounted the claims and reports of those who spoke out regarding other Whedon projects. So he wasn’t exactly denying the notion that such allegations are legitimate, even though he didn’t exactly show support to anyone either by avoiding the topic altogether. On the flip side of that coin, Dollhouse star Eliza Dushku previously shared a lengthy statement of support after her Buffy co-star Charisma Carpenter spoke out about her alleged experiences, though without calling Whedon out directly in the way she went about her claims against former Bull co-star Michael Weatherly.

So just in case anyone wondered if Fillion would still put future distance between himself and Whedon on a professional level, that’s clearly not the case. There’s no telling what the director will bring to light next from a creative standpoint, but if he needs anyone to fill the top spot on the call sheet, he knows where to look. 

Any Word On A Firefly Revival?

It's unclear if Firefly will ever make a return to fans in any live-action form following the Serenity feature, but it's safe to say that those chances got even worse after the Joss Whedon backlash. And while it sounds like he'd be skeptical about returning as Captain Mal with anyone other than Whedon as the spearheader, he'd clearly jump right into gear if someone picked it up with its creator's involvement intact. But is that something the two of them ever chat about? Here's how Fillion put it:

It's hard to think of any show that has anchored more "revive this show" conversations than Firefly, with its single season having launched a comic book mini-verse. Not that fans of the Fox series have allowed such two-dimensional fare to sway the calls for the show's crew to get back together for one last mission. (Or 8-13 last mini-missions, as it were.) 

Just as Nathan Fillion and Joss Whedon still keep in touch, The Rookie totally featured a sweet reunion between Fillion and his former Firefly (and Con Man) co-star Alan Tudyk back for the Season 4 finale. Granted, some storytelling magic would need to happen for Tudyk to return, but such is the world of sci-fi. Still, it's probably best not to get one's hopes up too high. 

Firefly is available to stream with a Hulu subscription.