Aaron Pierre has said a serious bicep injury nearly prevented him from being cast as John Stewart in HBO’s forthcoming Lanterns series. The actor attended his final callback in a brace shortly after surgery, saying his determination to play the character led him to proceed despite limited movement in his arm.

Pierre told a San Diego Comic-Con panel that his tendon had separated from the bone, causing his bicep to move towards his shoulder. He was reportedly among the final two or three candidates, won the role after the callback, and then had several months to rehabilitate; Lanterns is due to begin streaming on 16 August 2026.