One Lanterns Casting Choice Feels Like It's Hiding A Bigger Secret

HBO's "Lanterns" may be primarily headlined by its two leads — Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre as Hal Jordan and John Stewart, respectively — but the presence of Jason Ritter raises questions. Ritter is a very famous character actor, an Emmy nominee for his guest role in NBC's "Parenthood" with notable credits across both cable (HBO's "Girls") and network television (CBS' "Matlock"). He also happens to be Mr. Melanie Lynskey.

So why would DC Studios cast him in such a minor part?

On "Lanterns," Ritter plays Billy Macon, a Nebraskan lawyer caught between his wife Sheriff Kerry (Kelly Macdonald) and his powerful father William Macon (Garret Dillahunt). From the looks of it, Billy is nothing more than a typical small-town professional. 

But since "Lanterns" aims to evoke the perplexing vibes of HBO's "True Detective" mixed with DC's fantastical sci-fi comic book lore, could Ritter's seemingly benign exterior hide a big secret?

If "Billy Macon" is a front and Jason Ritter is playing a character more befitting his celebrity, who could it be? The obvious answer would be the Manhunter. As Episode 2 explains, Manhunters are synthetic, shape-shifting entities with a history of committing planetary genocide in pursuit of their twisted idea of justice. John Stewart finds out a Manhunter is hiding somewhere in Rushville, and Hal Jordan assumes that this Manhunter murdered this sector of the galaxy's previous Green Lantern, Abin Sur. 

If "Billy" is, in fact, a Manhunter in hiding, proximity to his influential father and wife could help him obtain or obscure information to keep nosey folks like Hal Jordan and John Stewart from uncovering his true identity. Granted, his wife is a very perceptive head of local law enforcement, and his father seems strongly opposed to space aliens on Earth, so "Billy Macon" may not be a perfect disguise for an evil extraterrestrial Manhunter ... unless that's all part of his master plan?

In comic book lore, the Guardians of the Universe create the Manhunters to serve as an intergalactic police force. Unfortunately, Manhunters lack empathy, moral nuance, and restraint, and are therefore replaced by the kinder, gentler Green Lantern Corps.

Is Ritter — known for playing nonthreatening "nice guys" — a mass murder robot in disguise? Anything is possible, right? If you've got a theory of your own, by all means enlighten us in the comments.