Garret Dillahunt Reveals the Real Reason William Macon Went Fully Nude in ‘Lanterns’

HBO’s ‘Lanterns‘ has built its reputation on slow-burn tension and unexpected character choices, but episode 4 delivered a moment that had almost nothing to do with cosmic mysteries and everything to do with old-fashioned intimidation. William Macon Sr., played by Garret Dillahunt, has spent the season as one of the show’s most unpredictable figures, and the September 6 episode pushed that unpredictability to a new extreme.

The scene arrives after John Stewart and Hal Jordan sneak onto Macon’s heavily armed compound, hoping to uncover a definitive link between him and a suspected Manhunter hiding out in Rushville, Nebraska. Instead of answers, the two Green Lanterns get captured, and what follows becomes one of the strangest confrontations the series has produced so far.

Once John and Hal are brought before him, Macon strips completely naked and insists that John, aware of his talent for illustration, draw him in the nude. Dillahunt has now confirmed exactly what was going through his character’s head during that bizarre power play, exclusively telling SYFY Wire that Macon genuinely believes his mysterious benefactor has made the town a safer, healthier place to live, pointing to the empty hospitals as proof.

Dillahunt explained that Macon sees himself as deeply indebted to this benefactor, who he claims cured his cancer and transformed him into what he called a super-fit young senior citizen. That gratitude, according to Dillahunt, is exactly what fuels Macon’s protectiveness and his willingness to base decisions about who belongs in Rushville around keeping his benefactor safe.

There’s also a more personal motivation simmering underneath the scene. John had previously slept with Macon’s wife Zoe, played by Poorna Jagannathan, without realizing she was married, and Dillahunt noted that the situation clearly rattled his character even though John had no way of knowing the truth beforehand.

According to Dillahunt, that lingering tension is part of why Macon felt compelled to assert dominance the way he did, using his own physical confidence as a way to throw John off balance and reestablish control of the room. Stripping down wasn’t just about intimidation aimed at both Lanterns, it was also a pointed message aimed squarely at John.

Dillahunt has been candid about how differently he approached this role compared to his usual projects. He’s previously said he tends to gravitate toward smaller, independent productions with modest but devoted fan bases, making the scale of ‘Lanterns,’ which pulled in millions of viewers across its opening days, an unfamiliar experience for him.

The physical demands of the nude scene weren’t lost on him either. Dillahunt has joked that reading the script pushed him straight into the gym, admitting he assumed those kinds of on-camera moments were long behind him at this stage of his career, though he credited the cast and crew for keeping the mood light and humorous on the day of filming.

Behind the scenes, the creative team has described the scene as a deliberate choice rather than shock value for its own sake. Producers involved with the show have said the goal was to depict an unconventional display of power, using vulnerability and nudity as an unexpected way to convey authority rather than weakness.

With the Manhunter mystery still unraveling and Macon’s true loyalties far from settled, this moment adds another layer to a character who’s proven difficult to read all season. Whether Macon turns out to be a genuine ally or something far more dangerous, Dillahunt’s approach to the role suggests there’s more calculation behind his choices than viewers might initially assume.

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