Green Lantern Corps: The New Recruits

Season 2 Poster

***Green Lantern Corps: The New Recruits*** is an American television series that ran for three seasons from 2031 to 2033. It based on the DC Comics heroes, the Green Lanterns. It is the fifteenth television series in the DCEU and the third television series of Phase 5. It is the sequel to *Green Lantern Corps: Mission Earth.* It premiered on October 3, 2031.

## Plot Summary

### Season 1

After finally imprisoning Parallax in the main power battery, and now fully fledged Green Lanterns once more, John Stewart and Guy Gardner decide to rebuild the Corps after Parallax's destruction. At the same time, Kyle Rayner returns to defend Sector 2814 from various threats. During the season, Stewart and Gardner think that Rayner might need help, so they decide to send another ring to Earth where it chooses Simon Baz as the next Green Lantern of Sector 2814.

### Season 2

After showing great willpower by denying Power Ring's after her initial rampage, Jessica Cruz gains a Green Lantern ring even though she doesn't think she deserves it. Despite this, Kyle Rayner trains her, and continues to train Simon Baz as the Green Lanterns of Sector 2814. Meanwhile, John and Guy continue to rebuild the Corps.

### Season 3

In the final season, Simon and Jessica are left to be the Green Lanterns of Earth while Kyle helps the other planets in the sector. Despite having only one planet to work, Cruz and Baz still struggle with their personal lives while also being the intergalactic protectors of Earth. With this, they must also face off against a man who used to be considered the greatest Green Lantern of them all... Hal Jordan.

## Cast

### Main

* Tyler Posey as Green Lantern Delta/Kyle Rayner
* Fady Elsayed as Green Lantern Echo/Simon Baz
* Diane Guerrero as Power Ring/Green Lantern Foxtrot/Jessica Cruz
* Omar Epps as Green Lantern Bravo/John Stewart
* Alan Ritchson as Green Lantern Charlie/Guy Gardner

### Guest

* Aiden Gillen as Goldface/Keith Kanyon (season 1)
* Charles Dance as The Lamplighter/Lee Carver (season 1)
* Ashton Kutcher as Power Ring/Harold Jordan (season 1)
* Jared Robinson as Relic (season 2)
* Iain Glen as Volthoom (season 2)
* The Keepers (season 2)
	+ Unknown as Keeper-1
	+ Unknown as Keeper-2
	+ Unknown as Keeper-3
	+ Unknown as Keeper-4
	+ Unknown as Keeper-5
	+ Unknown as Keeper-6
* Dee Bradley Baker as Agent Orange/Larfleeze (season 3)
* Marilyn Manson as Ragnar (season 3)
* The Weaponers of Qward (season 3)
	+ Chris Hemsworth as Yokal the Atrocious
	+ Wesley Snipes as Varnathon
	+ Alex Hogh Andersen as General Fabrikant
	+ Pablo Schrieber as Kiman
	+ Michael Emerson as Magot

## Reception

When it first premiered, *The New Recruits* received mixed reviews from critics and audiences. "Johns and Moore's third Green Lantern series is a bit of a dud, but it has certain highlights that make it watchable." Many stated that Baz wasn't that interesting of a character, and the rebuilding of the Corps was where the interesting tales were being featured.

When season 2 premiered, it got much more positive reviews, as with the introduction of fan favorite Green Lantern: Jessica Cruz. "Season 2 of *The New Recruits* is much better than its predecessor and Guerrero manages to do a terrific job as Cruz, showcased well last season additionally." Guerrero's performances was heavily praised in season 1 and more so in season 2. The chemistry between Baz and Cruz was now the heart of the show, and improved Baz's rather dull character. In addition to the great stories Stewart and Ritchson offered in their respective roles, as well as Posey.

When season 3 premiered, it received universal acclaim. "Everyone has been speechless over how terrific the latest Green Lantern show really is." Guerrero was once again heavily praised, as well as Elsayed who is now more comfortable in the role. The writing of the various stories and characters was also very much praised.

## Cancellation

Like the two series before it, *The New Recruits* was planned to have five seasons, but due to the ratings and higher budget than other HBO shows at the time, it was cancelled. Johns stated that the fourth season was supposed to be a redemption arc for Hal Jordan, and he was supposed to be fight alongside Cruz and Baz, who were supposed to "re-teach" Jordan about what it means to be a Green Lantern, not realizing he was possessed by the embodiment of fear. Then the final season would be Hal, and the other Green Lanterns, facing off against Parallax with the series ending with Hal Jordan retiring as a Green Lantern after the defeat of Parallax. Johns said "I had a great scene lined up for the end, it would've been so good. It was supposed to be with Krasinski and Guerrero about conquering fear, and then with all the Green Lanterns telling them, that they are the great ones, because all of them triumphed over something real, while he succumbed to fear. He did make out in the end, but that was only after everything. Damn would it have been good."

Johns and Moore tried to get another Green Lantern series off the ground entitled *The Return of Hal Jordan* which would've been the planned seasons 4 and 5, but would be a one-off mini-series of 16 episodes. However, it never came into fruition, and Johns and Moore ultimately published two novel adaptations of the two seasons instead.

## Trivia

* Initially, Gina Rodriguez was the front runner to play Jessica Cruz, even though she played Beautiful Dreamer many years before. However, Diane Guerrero loved the character so much that she constantly campaigned for the role and urged Geoff Johns to cast her. He eventually set up a meeting with her and said to her "Everything you've done to get this role, that takes a lot of willpower. Welcome to the Corps Ms. Cruz." Guerrero said she almost cried.
* Johns stated that Fady Elsayed's performance in *Elseworlds* is what got him the role as Simon Baz.