Poorna Jagannathan, the actress portraying Zoe in the HBO series 'Lanterns,' revealed that she was unaware her character was the hidden Manhunter until she read the script for episode four. The series, which explores the mystery of a Manhunter hiding in Rushville, confirmed Zoe's identity as the synthetic being in its fourth episode, titled "The Weenie."
Manhunters are artificial beings originally created by the Guardians to protect the universe. They were later eliminated by the Guardians after becoming violent, though one apparently evaded destruction and has been living in secret. The plot twist emerged as Hal Jordan and John Stewart investigated strange occurrences.
Jagannathan expressed surprise at the revelation, stating, "Until I read it, I had no idea!" She noted that when she was filming earlier episodes, the writing for episode four was not yet complete. Her co-star, Garret Dillahunt, who plays onscreen husband William Macon, also seemed unaware of Jagannathan's ignorance regarding her character's true nature, joking that "they don't trust you."
The episode further complicated the Manhunter reveal by introducing Hector Hammond, a Green Lantern villain from the comics known for his mental powers. The series presented Hammond as a potential suspect, but it was later disclosed that he was a red herring. Hammond, whose real name is Hector Guiterrez, was working with William Macon to protect his wife, Zoe, the actual Manhunter.
'Lanterns' is set to explore Zoe's history and her connection to other characters in upcoming episodes.