Did HBO’s Green Lantern Show Just Kill Guy Gardner?

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HBO’s new series, Lanterns, is putting the spotlight on iconic DC characters Hal Jordan and John Stewart. Starring Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre, the show will introduce these heroes as part of James Gunn’s interconnected DC Universe. DC Studios and HBO have just released the first trailer, giving fans a sneak peek at the upcoming story.

This footage, clearly influenced by the style of HBO’s True Detective, shows the complex relationship between Hal and John. Hal is training John to become a Green Lantern. The story, titled Lanterns, centers around their investigation of a murder in a quiet town and seems to present these cosmic characters in a realistic and down-to-earth way.

Hal Jordan and John Stewart feel different from previous Green Lanterns – and even Guy Gardner from Superman – because they don’t utilize the typical green energy constructs and power ring effects as much. This difference is why a specific scene at the end of the trailer has left some viewers puzzled.

Hal Jordan Says He’s The Only Human Green Lantern In The Lanterns Trailer

The sneak peek finishes with John and Hal chatting in a car. John asks Hal if he keeps in touch with the other Green Lanterns, and Hal’s answer was… interesting. He basically confirmed a bunch of other Lanterns are out there, but then he added something really strange. He said he doesn’t talk to them much because they’re all aliens, and that he’s the only human Green Lantern! It definitely left me with a lot to think about.

As a big comic book fan, this detail really struck me. It confirms that the Green Lanterns we see in the show aren’t just drawing from one source – the comics have featured many different people wielding the ring over the years. And that means some of my favorites, like the original Green Lantern Alan Scott, aren’t currently active members of the Corps. It also puts to rest the idea that characters like Kyle Rayner, Simon Baz, Jessica Cruz, and Sojourner Mullein were already established Lanterns before the show began. It’s a clean slate, which is interesting!

This plot point doesn’t fit with what we already know about the DC Universe, specifically regarding Guy Gardner. Nathan Fillion has already portrayed the character in both Superman and season 2 of Peacemaker, and he’s set to reprise the role in Lanterns. In every version of Guy Gardner’s story, he’s been a human being born and raised on Earth, and nothing in the DC Universe has suggested otherwise.

Taking Hal’s comment at face value, there are dire implications for Guy.

Hal’s Line Could Mean That Guy Gardner Is Dead

The simplest explanation is likely that Guy Gardner is already deceased within the story of Lanterns. The trailer shows that Hal Jordan has been a Green Lantern for quite some time. It would be odd if he didn’t recognize Guy, considering they both protect the same area of space and are from Earth. Regardless of whether Guy joined the Green Lantern Corps before or after Hal, the Guardians of the Universe would definitely have informed Hal about him.

Okay, so this new piece of information could really change how we understand the story of Lanterns. We already knew Hal Jordan and John Stewart were looking into a murder, but the victim’s identity was a mystery. Everyone’s been guessing it might be Alan Scott, but what if it’s actually Guy Gardner? That would make a lot of sense, because it would explain that line Hal said – he’d be the only other human Lantern still around, making his statement completely true. It’s a clever little detail that really adds up!

It seems improbable that Gunn would eliminate this character so soon, especially since the actor is a friend of his. The character has already become an important hero on Earth as a member of the Justice League, and it didn’t appear his role in the DC Universe would be cut short.

Despite being sad, Guy’s death might actually be good for the overall story. Viewers have gotten to know him, so his passing would likely create a strong emotional impact. More importantly, it would allow Hal and John to step up and become more central heroes, potentially establishing one of them as the main Green Lantern representing Earth.

How Guy Being Alive Could Still Work With Hal’s “Only Human” Line

My initial reaction to what Hal said was thinking about Guy’s death, but there are other ways the story could go, which future Lanterns comics or DC Universe projects might explore.

Okay, so one interesting possibility about Hal Jordan is that he genuinely had no idea Guy Gardner was around. His character in Lanterns hints at him being a bit of a loner, maybe even looking down on some of the other Lanterns. It really feels like Hal’s a bit disconnected, not really keeping tabs on all of his fellow Green Lanterns. Honestly, he might have been so preoccupied with his own stuff that he just didn’t even notice another Lantern operating on Earth!

The story could explain Hal’s absence from Earth as the reason he wasn’t aware Guy had returned. Perhaps he wasn’t told Guy was coming, or maybe he simply forgot in the time he’s been away. This disconnect from the Lantern Corps could also explain why Hal didn’t realize Guy was still an active member.

It’s possible Guy Gardner isn’t entirely human within the DC Universe. We haven’t learned much about his past in Superman or Peacemaker, leaving room for a potential alien origin. This idea isn’t new – in the comics, Guy has Vuldarian ancestry, meaning he’s part alien with shape-shifting abilities. Maybe those powers have been, or still are, active in the DCU, which could explain why Hal Jordan perceives him as an alien instead of a human.

As we consider different possibilities, it’s worth noting that the Lanterns series might actually happen before other DC Universe projects. The trailer doesn’t clearly state that the story takes place after Superman. If that’s the case, Guy Gardner might not have become a Green Lantern yet when the series begins.

It’s unclear what Hal means when he says he’s the “only human” Green Lantern, and we’ll likely have to wait for the release of Lanterns to find out more. However, hearing that line makes it hard not to wonder if Guy Gardner’s time in the DC Universe is limited.

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2026-03-05 21:49