Rumor: New Leaks Confirm Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz to Star in HBO Max Green Lantern Series

JB Augustine |

Dec 24, 2020

A pair of newly reported character descriptions have supposedly confirmed the long-rumored appearances of rookie ring-slingers Jessica Cruz and Simon Baz in HBO Max’s upcoming Green Lantern series.

Details surrounding the two Earth-based recruits, released both by scooper Daniel Richtman and The Illuminerdi, highlight the characters’ everyday struggles and note that both heroes are less than forthcoming about their histories.

Jessica Cruz is described as a “self-reliant” provider for her sister with an anxiety disorder:

“Protecting the galaxy is hard enough. It’s even tougher when you’re the type of person who’s uncomfortable leaving the apartment. Life forced Jessica to become self-reliant at a young age. She worked her way through school, while taking care of her younger sister. She’s bright. Determined. Looking at her you’d never know the struggle going on inside. Jessica lives with a sometimes- crippling anxiety disorder. She’s been fighting fear longer than any of our other Lanterns.”

A Lantern fanboy, Simon Baz is described as having equal parts gumption and confidence, despite facing shifting public perceptions of Middle Eastern men in a post-9/11 world:

“For as long as he can remember, Simon’s loved the Green Lanterns. Using his innate charm and gift of gab, he works in Detroit as a vendor. However, business hasn’t been good lately. In the wake of 9/11, America has grown distrustful of young Middle Eastern men.”

With Baz and Cruz’s supposed confirmation, it’s clear that HBO Max is committed to diversity in its television offerings, though hopefully this won’t effect the story at large.

As Baz’s character summary hints that the series will takeplace sometime after the 2000s, it’s possible that the duo could be trained by the now-former ‘modern’ Earth-based Lanterns, Hal Jordan and John Stewart, who would undoubtedly have sniority within the Corps in such a proposed timeline.

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Richtman also stated that casting director Vickie Thomas, who previously as the casting director for HBO’s Watchmen and True Detective, will fulfill the same position on Green Lantern.

Whether Thomas’ addition to the production team serves as an indication that the series will boast a ‘darker’ tone remains uncertain, though if her resume of socially conscious television series is any indication of Green Lantern’s future, such a direction would be unsurprising.

Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz join a cast already comprised of Alan Scott, Guy Gardner, and original character Bree Jarta – who, while may secretly be someone else, is expected to be the lead.

Green Lantern has no premiere date or start date for production.