Aaron Pierre Reveals Grisly Bicep Injury That Nearly Cost Him Lanterns Role

Aaron Pierre explained that helium astir didn’t get his relation arsenic John Stewart successful HBO’s Lanterns bid owed to a gnarly bicep wounded helium sustained specified months earlier filming.

Pierre shared the shocking communicative astatine the authoritative Lanterns sheet astatine San Diego Comic Con, saying helium went to his last callback portion his limb was inactive successful a brace portion helium was recovering from surgery.

“Just earlier we started filming, my tendon separated from the bone,” helium said, drafting sympathetic gasps from the audience. “My bicep went each the mode up to my shoulder. This was close astatine the constituent wherever I was gonna yet conscionable Chris and Damon and Tom. I retrieve my squad gave maine a telephone and said, ‘Look, you person this opportunity. You are successful the last 2 oregon three.’

“I conscionable had country and I'm walking astir similar this,” helium continued, mimicking his limb successful a sling. “I can't afloat widen my arm. They said, ‘You inactive wanna bash it?’ I said, ‘Don't inquire silly questions.’ I went into the callback successful my brace."

Throughout the panel, Pierre made his emotion for the Lanterns highly clear, adjacent wearing a customized letterman overgarment emblazoned with ‘In brightest day, successful blackest night’ connected the backmost (as good arsenic immoderate peculiar Green Lantern-themed kicks). For him, playing John Stewart was truthful important that helium would bash thing — adjacent amusement up to his last callback successful a brace to beryllium his dedication to the part.

“I conscionable wanted the relation truthful much,” helium said. “I emotion John truthful much. I deliberation successful that infinitesimal — this isn't hyperbole — I was like, ‘What would John do?’ I walked successful determination and gave it my best. I got the role, and I had a substance of months to rehab. I had a fantastic team.”

Pierre isn't unsocial is suffering a grisly bicep tear; Ryan Hurst, formerly formed arsenic Kratos successful Prime Video's God of War series, was forced to permission the task aft tearing his bicep filming a stunt for the show. The relation volition present beryllium recast, with filming projected to resume successful 2027.

HBO’s Lanterns streams connected August 16, 2026.

Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s News Editor. With 10 years of acquisition reporting connected games and entertainment, she’s got a storied inheritance successful the warring crippled community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her connected Twitter astatine @TheeMissGlaze.