‘Lanterns’ stars fooled Comic Con crowds with ‘Star Wars’ disguises

Kyle Chandler has revealed that he and his Lanterns co star Garret Dillahunt successfully wandered through San Diego Comic Con without being recognised by fans after disguising themselves in Star Wars Stormtrooper helmets.

The actor shared the behind the scenes story during an appearance on Today With Jenna and Sheinelle, explaining that both stars were eager to experience the convention from a fan's perspective rather than from behind promotional events and security barriers.

According to Chandler, the pair initially asked organisers whether they could spend time on the convention floor. They were quickly told that walking through the crowded halls without attracting attention would be nearly impossible because of their growing visibility ahead of the release of HBO's Lanterns.

Instead of giving up, Chandler and Dillahunt came up with another idea. They asked whether they could borrow masks that would completely hide their identities. Around lunchtime, organisers delivered two Stormtrooper helmets inspired by the iconic soldiers from the Star Wars franchise.

With the helmets covering their faces, the actors quietly joined thousands of attendees and spent around an hour exploring exhibits, displays and fan attractions without revealing who they were.

"It was amazing," Chandler said while recalling the experience, adding that the disguise allowed them to enjoy the convention in a way few high profile actors ever can.

Dillahunt later shared footage from their undercover outing on Instagram, showing the pair casually walking through Comic Con among fans completely unaware of who was standing beside them. He joked that he probably could have managed without a helmet, but Chandler remained convinced the disguise prevented them from being recognised.

The playful post quickly attracted enthusiastic reactions from fans, many praising the actors for finding a creative way to enjoy one of the world's biggest entertainment conventions while blending into the crowd.

Chandler and Dillahunt attended this year's Comic Con alongside fellow Lanterns cast members Aaron Pierre and Poorna Jagannathan. The upcoming HBO series premieres on August 16 and follows veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan, played by Chandler, and newcomer John Stewart, portrayed by Pierre, as they investigate a mysterious murder that draws them into a much larger conspiracy.

Their undercover adventure also reflected a growing tradition among Hollywood stars who have found inventive ways to experience Comic Con anonymously. Earlier during the same event, Ryan Reynolds revealed that he secretly walked the convention floor dressed as Jeanpool, a denim clad variation of Deadpool.

Reynolds later explained that he spent time meeting fans, posing for photographs and exploring exhibits without security escorts before unexpectedly appearing during Marvel's Hall H presentation. He described the opportunity to interact directly with fans as a gift, thanking the Comic Con community for the passion and creativity they bring to the annual gathering.