First look at Lanterns sparks backlash from fans

The initial trailer for the upcoming DC show, Lanterns, is out, and many fans are expressing a similar concern about its visual style.

The new live-action Green Lantern series, titled Lanterns, will premiere on HBO in August and is part of James Gunn’s reimagined DC universe.

The series brings together veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan, played by Kyle Chandler, and new recruit John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) as they investigate corruption and murder in a quiet Nebraska town.

The first trailer is out, and fans of Green Lantern are all reacting in the same way to the two minutes and twenty seconds of footage.

DC fans compare Lanterns to Yellowstone and True Detective

The trailer for Lanterns hints at a more realistic and character-focused story, with less emphasis on typical superhero fights and power ring displays. However, some fans are expressing disappointment with the show’s visuals, colors, and overall mood.

Fans on Reddit have expressed disappointment with the limited amount of green imagery and constructs in the show’s trailer. One user said they were simply expecting to see more green, considering the show is about Green Lanterns. Others agreed, stating they’d have preferred a greater emphasis on the color green and the iconic Lantern constructs.

People are making some funny comparisons online, saying it feels like a new show from the “Yellowstone” universe. One person even jokingly pointed out that the characters in question are weak against yellow rocks.

I’ve been seeing a lot of funny reactions online, like someone calling it “No country for old Lanterns”! But honestly, everyone keeps bringing up one HBO show in particular, and it’s getting a ton of attention.

Early looks at the show suggest a dark and mysterious atmosphere, strongly reminiscent of the series True Detective. Many viewers are comparing it to a potential fifth season of that show, describing it as a gritty, high-quality mystery.

The show’s creators are clearly inspired by that earlier series – writer and showrunner Chris Munday even mentioned it in a recent Vanity Fair interview. He explained that from the start, their goal was to adapt the original material into a complex and realistic HBO drama focused on human stories.

The show’s title, ‘When Green Lanterns Become True Detectives,’ actually suggests the current criticism was intentional. However, it’s important to remember this is just a trailer, and the final series could be quite different from what we’ve seen.

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2026-03-05 13:51