Josh Brolin turned down the Hal Jordan role in 'Lanterns'

Josh Brolin said passing on Hal Jordan in Lanterns was simply “one of those things.” The Hollywood Reporter reported that the part later went to Kyle Chandler.

Asked whether the cancellation of Outer Range led him to decline the HBO series, Brolin first said no. He then allowed that Lanterns may have felt “too close” to Outer Range, which he called a heartbreaking cancellation. The distinction leaves his reasoning deliberately unsettled rather than tying the two decisions together.

Brolin said he had watched Lanterns, praised its actors and hoped the show was succeeding. He also said that when he passes on a project, he does not dwell on whether his version would have been better, pointing to Edward Norton's performance in Birdman as an example of appreciating what another actor did with a role.