James Gunn Splits the Fanbase With First Photo of DCU’s Green Lantern Ring

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The initial image of the Green Lantern ring for the new DC Universe sparked a mixed reaction from fans. After Nathan Fillion’s first appearance as Guy Gardner’s Green Lantern in James Gunn’s Superman movie, Gunn’s DC franchise is moving forward with its first series focused on the Green Lanterns: Lanterns, which will stream on HBO Max.

A first look at James Gunn’s upcoming series, Lanterns, revealed the most detailed view yet of the Green Lantern ring. The ring design includes the familiar Green Lantern emblem, highlighted with a gold border and a green gemstone in the middle.

The rest of the ring is a dark, stone-like band that fits around the finger. It has cracks running through it, which give it an aged look, as if it could be thousands of years old.

This version of the ring is a bit different from the one Nathan Fillion wore in the 2025 film Superman. That ring didn’t have a gold outline around the Green Lantern symbol, and the band was entirely green. It didn’t use the black coating seen on the ring in the 2011 Green Lantern movie, either.

This new version features a different ring design compared to the one in the 2011 film Green Lantern starring Ryan Reynolds. The earlier ring had detailed patterns on its black band and a bright, glowing Green Lantern symbol on top.

When the first look at the new Green Lantern ring was revealed, fans had very different opinions. One user, @Teliporter344, wondered why DC couldn’t simply create a streamlined, all-green ring, and expressed hope that we’ll see a variety of designs when the show finally airs.

“Is it so difficult for them to just make an entirely green ring that’s sleek in its design?

The Guardians designed these rings to be the most powerful weapons imaginable, and refining their appearance would have been a natural part of their process to achieve a flawless design.

How is it such a big ask for them to use a design like this?

I hope the designs are varied, similar to what we see in the comics—like the great artwork on the cover of ‘Emerald Twilight’ #2.

TheAverageNerd expressed a similar opinion, stating they didn’t particularly like the gold details on the Lantern logo.

After seeing the photo, @MasterEdJS said they didn’t love the ring’s raw, unfinished appearance. They acknowledged it was an impressive piece of technology, but would have preferred a smoother, more polished and precisely crafted design.

Talknerdytome001 was particularly critical, suggesting DC missed an opportunity to create something as recognizable and memorable as Captain America’s shield. They also felt the design simply wasn’t very elegant or visually appealing.

I’m really disappointed with this design. DC Comics had the opportunity to create something as memorable as Captain America’s shield, but it didn’t quite hit the mark.

Honestly, the thought of this ring just floating out there in space, announcing that the Green Lantern of sector 3865 has fallen… it feels so cold and impersonal. It just doesn’t have any of the grace or beauty I’d expect from something so powerful and important.

Friendly_Falafel thought having gold or yellow on the ring felt strange, because that color has long been known as the Lantern Corps’ biggest vulnerability.

On a brighter note, @ComradeOb liked the ring’s appearance, describing it as “ancient and worn” and saying it would work well in a live-action setting.

Scheduled to premiere in 2026, Lanterns is the third series planned as part of DC Studios’ first wave of projects, known as Gods and Monsters. The show, starring Aaron Pierre, Kyle Chandler, Nathan Fillion, Kelly Macdonald, and Ulrich Thomsen, will focus on John Stewart’s journey as he joins the Green Lantern Corps. He and Hal Jordan will then team up to solve a puzzling mystery here on Earth. Lanterns will be available to stream on HBO Max in 2026.

Will Green Lantern Ring Win Fans Over in Lanterns?

The look of the Green Lantern ring has evolved over time, usually to fit the style and story of whatever comic or movie it’s in. The upcoming Lanterns series will continue this trend, introducing John Stewart as a new Lantern and portraying Hal Jordan as a seasoned member of the Green Lantern Corps.

Before the movie comes out in 2026, the only glimpse DC Studios has given fans is of Jordan’s power ring. Since only a short clip has been released so far, DC plans to show the ring more prominently once they share more footage featuring John Stewart and Hal Jordan.

DC Studios is planning an exciting introduction to the Lantern Corps in the DCU. The story will focus on its main characters as they investigate a mysterious case happening on Earth, told in a similar style to the TV show True Detective.

Although there’s no official release date yet, fans are excited to learn more about DC Studios’ plans for the Green Lantern series, including the powerful rings and the new heroes it will feature.

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2026-01-08 09:36