Look, everyone’s waiting to see if James Gunn and Peter Safran can really deliver on their vision for the new DCU – and prove what HBO Max is capable of too. It hasn’t been a smooth ride getting here; honestly, I was surprised by the backlash from some fans who thought the approach was too realistic, especially considering we’re talking about Green Lantern! But now it’s almost time to see if this new direction will actually work.
Initial disappointment stemmed from the first trailer, which focused on just one power and didn’t offer much to talk about, except for a glimpse of a Lantern ring in the car – and notably, no green color. However, the series quickly regained attention, and the newest trailer, revealed at San Diego Comic-Con, emphatically confirms it’s a must-watch this summer.
And it also introduces a major supervillain to the DCU, and that’s not all.
Lanterns Series Suddenly Has a Nice … Ring to It
The upcoming series, Lanterns, stars Aaron Pierre (known for Rebel Ridge) as John Stewart and Kyler Chandler (Godzilla v. Kong, Mayor of Kingstown) as Hal Jordan. The story follows a young John Stewart as he strives to prove himself worthy of the Green Lantern ring, while Hal Jordan doubts his abilities, creating tension between the two.
Gunn explained to Lanterns Live that the story shares many similarities with John Stewart’s journey, though it also focuses on several other characters.
Their relationship is fragile, stemming from how different they are as people. He’s set to return as Guy Gardner in the 2025 Superman movie, and Lanterns has everything needed to succeed – in fact, it’s almost guaranteed to be a popular show.
Lanterns Needs to Deliver a Home Run for James Gunn
There’s no use pretending everything is fine: James Gunn and the new DC Universe really need a success after Supergirl didn’t do well in theaters. While audiences generally liked the film, critics weren’t impressed, and it lost a significant amount of money – marking the first stumble for this newly launched universe which has only released two live-action movies so far.
Beyond the issues already discussed – including some viewers’ negative reaction to Jordan’s costume – the initial trailers for Lanterns upset many fans of the DC Universe and DC Studios. According to Safran, this shows just how important it is that the show succeeds.
As a huge movie fan, I’m getting really excited because it feels like we’re finally on the verge of seeing the DC Universe come together in a way that makes sense! Luckily, Lanterns seems to be heading in the right direction, and honestly, a lot is riding on it. It needs to keep things going until Clayface drops this October – I’ve heard it’s a proper horror flick! – and then, of course, until the big one, Superman: Man of Tomorrow, which is slated for 2027. I’m counting down the days!
Lanterns is expected to light up HBO Max on August 16, 2026.
2026-07-25 00:11