It’s surprising that the Green Lantern hasn’t had a successful live-action adaptation yet. DC did make an attempt with 2011’s Green Lantern, but the movie became one of the most infamous comic book films.
It had a talented director, Martin Campbell (who directed Casino Royale), a strong cast led by Ryan Reynolds, and rich source material. Unfortunately, the movie was both a critical and financial failure. Most of the people involved in the production now see the film as a mistake.
Since then, apart from a brief cameo of a Green Lantern Corps member in Justice League, we haven’t seen the famous green ring in any live-action DC project.
However, Green Lantern has done well on television, especially in animated shows like Justice League and Green Lantern: The Animated Series.
With this history in mind, DC Studios’ new leaders, James Gunn and Peter Safran, have decided to use the TV format to bring the Green Lanterns into their new DC Universe. The new series, titled Lanterns, will focus on two Green Lantern heroes.
Who Will Be in the New Lanterns Series?
Lanterns will feature Hal Jordan and John Stewart, both iconic Green Lantern characters. Hal Jordan is the original human Green Lantern Corps member, and John Stewart is another well-known Lantern who appeared in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited.
This new show will be part of the “Gods and Monsters” phase, a new chapter of the DC Universe that Gunn and Safran are developing.
The show is expected to be a detective story, with Hal and John teaming up to solve a mystery that could have a major impact on the entire DC Universe.
Although a buddy-cop style Green Lantern show has been rumored for years, it was kept under wraps for a long time. Now, with Gunn and Safran pushing the production forward, fans are excited to see what happens next.
When Will Lanterns Be Released?
Lanterns is still in its early stages, so it doesn’t have an official release date yet. However, according to Gunn, the series will likely come out between two big upcoming DC movies: Superman: Legacy (set for release on July 11, 2025) and The Authority. So, fans can expect Lanterns to debut on HBO Max (recently rebranded as Max) sometime after the summer of 2025.
Where Can You Watch Lanterns?
Lanterns will be available on Max, which has become the go-to streaming service for all things DC. Fans can already find plenty of Green Lantern content on Max, including animated films and TV series like Green Lantern: The Animated Series and the Justice League shows.
Is There a Lanterns Trailer?
Since Lanterns is still in pre-production, there’s no trailer yet. The only official view of the show comes from James Gunn’s announcement video, where he revealed the “Gods and Monsters” slate.
The video included some comic book art showing Hal Jordan surrounded by his iconic green glow and John Stewart with a more ominous yellow hue. This may hint at the show’s plot.
Who Is Starring in Lanterns?
No official casting announcements have been made yet for Lanterns. However, there were reports that Marvel star Josh Brolin was being considered for the role of Hal Jordan.
Brolin is known for playing Thanos in the Avengers films and Cable in Deadpool 2. He also has some DC experience, having starred in Jonah Hex. Unfortunately, Brolin reportedly turned down the role, so the search for Hal Jordan continues.
Another actor who might appear in the series is Nathan Fillion, who is set to play Green Lantern Guy Gardner in Gunn’s upcoming Superman film. Since Lanterns will feature multiple Green Lanterns, it would make sense for Fillion to reprise his role in the show. In an interview, Fillion shared how excited he is to play Guy Gardner, a character with plenty of flaws:
“Everyone has quirks and vulnerabilities, and I love to lean into those flaws. Guy Gardner is 90% flawed and doesn’t care. I think there’s a real freedom in playing that.”
What Are the Origins of Hal Jordan and John Stewart?
Hal Jordan became a Green Lantern after his father, a test pilot, tragically died in a plane crash. Hal followed in his father’s footsteps and became a pilot, though his rebellious nature often got him into trouble. One day, an alien named Abin Sur, who was a Green Lantern Corps member, chose Hal as his successor.
With Abin Sur’s ring and lantern, Hal gained the power to create anything he imagined. Over the years, Hal has battled many foes, including his former mentor, Sinestro, who turned into one of his greatest enemies.
John Stewart, on the other hand, was a marine before joining the Green Lantern Corps. His military background taught him to question authority, especially if orders put innocent lives at risk.
This bravery made him a perfect candidate to become a Green Lantern, and he later became one of the most respected members of the Corps. John even achieved what no human had before by becoming a member of the Guardians of the Universe, the council that oversees the Green Lantern Corps.
What Is the Plot of Lanterns?
The series will mainly take place on Earth and is described as a mystery or crime story. James Gunn compared it to True Detective, meaning fans can expect a dark, intense storyline.
The comic art shown during Gunn’s announcement video features Hal Jordan in green and John Stewart in yellow, which could suggest that they might start as enemies.
Green represents willpower and heroism, while yellow represents fear and evil in the Green Lantern universe. The show may also include other Green Lanterns, like Guy Gardner and Jessica Cruz.
According to Gunn, the main storyline of Lanterns will tie directly into the larger DC Universe, meaning the events of this show could have significant consequences for future DC films and shows.
Who Is Behind the Scenes?
Lanterns has a talented team of writers working on the show. Damon Lindelof (The Leftovers, Watchmen), Chris Mundy (Ozark, True Detective), and DC comic book writer Tom King are all involved.
Tom King’s Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is also being turned into a movie, showing that Gunn and Safran have a lot of confidence in his storytelling abilities. They praised the writing team in a statement:
“We’re thrilled to bring this seminal DC title to HBO with Chris, Damon, and Tom at the helm. John Stewart and Hal Jordan are two of DC’s most compelling characters, and Lanterns brings them to life in an original detective story that is a foundational part of the unified DCU we’re launching next summer with Superman.”
Will Lanterns Have a Second Season?
Lanterns is set to have eight episodes in its first season, all of which will debut on Max. Whether or not the show will get a second season is still unknown. However, with so many Green Lantern stories in the DC Universe, there’s plenty of material for future seasons.
For now, fans can revisit the 2011 Green Lantern movie, which is available to rent or buy on various video-on-demand services.
