HBO’s New Superhero Show Set In James Gunn’s DCU Is Not What Fans Were Expecting

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Fans might be surprised by a new show coming to HBO as part of James Gunn’s DC Universe – and that could be a good thing. The upcoming DC films will build on this new universe and develop its main characters. The first story will focus on Supergirl, planned for release in June 2026, with more stories to follow in the years ahead.

Starting in 2026, DC will focus more on television series. When James Gunn first revealed his plans for the DC Universe, he said that TV shows and video games would be just as crucial to the overall story as the movies, but we haven’t seen that happen yet. Fortunately, that will change with the release of a new HBO show called Lanterns.

Lanterns Doesn’t Look Like A Typical Superhero Show (& Was Never Supposed To)

The initial trailer for Lanterns came out in March 2026, announcing its release on HBO Max in August of the same year. The trailer offered a first glimpse of Hal Jordan and John Stewart, the central heroes from the Green Lantern Corps who the series will follow. Despite highlighting these characters, the show didn’t appear to be what many fans anticipated.

Hal and John are both Green Lanterns, but the trailer for the new show surprisingly didn’t feature much green. It didn’t show the heroes creating the large, imaginative constructs usually powered by their rings, or even wearing their iconic costumes. Instead, the trailer gave off a more realistic and gritty vibe, similar to a show like True Detective.

The trailer for the show sparked a lot of debate among DC fans. Many hoped to see a deeper dive into the Green Lantern Corps, and while the full series might deliver that, the trailer didn’t really hint at it. The biggest issue for fans was that the show seemed to stray quite a bit from the Green Lantern stories they were familiar with in the comics.

You know, from the start, Lanterns wasn’t intended to be your average superhero series. James Gunn actually described it as being more like True Detective, but with Green Lanterns involved – basically, they’d be watching over Earth as part of their duties. He really didn’t want the show to focus on the cosmic side of the Green Lanterns; he wanted to keep things grounded and focused on what’s happening right here on Earth.

Lanterns Will Be Vital To The DC Universe’s Story

One way to make Lanterns feel more like a traditional superhero series is to connect it more closely to the larger DC Universe. While initially described as a *True Detectivestyle investigation, James Gunn has explained that the main storyline will be a mystery with links to the overall DCU narrative.

It’s still unclear what this all means, but it’s unlikely the overall story will be a typical police procedural. It seems probable that future episodes of Lanterns will focus more on the superhero side of Hal Jordan and John Stewart’s adventures.

As Lanterns season 1 concludes, the series will reveal its connection to the larger story being built by Gunn, and will likely evolve into a more traditional Green Lantern show as a result.

Future Lanterns Seasons Can Make It Like A Previously Unexpected DC Show – With 1 Key Difference

The upcoming Lanterns series could benefit from looking at Legends of Tomorrow, another surprising DC TV show, but with one important difference. Legends of Tomorrow started out with the same serious, grounded style as Arrow, but gradually embraced a more lighthearted, fun, and science fiction-focused approach.

Over time, Legends of Tomorrow developed a unique style and a science fiction storyline that stood apart from other shows in the Arrowverse. Lanterns has the potential to do the same if the mysteries of its first season lead the characters into a larger universe. But unlike Legends of Tomorrow, which became distinct through its sci-fi elements, Lanterns embracing that genre will actually make it more connected to its sister shows.

As a big fan of superhero movies, I’ve always loved the grand scale of films like Superman and Supergirl – they really lean into that classic, over-the-top sci-fi feel. That’s why I think the reaction to Lanterns felt so strong – people were expecting something similar. Honestly, if Lanterns expands its scope and becomes more of a traditional superhero story as it goes, it’ll probably end up feeling more like those other DCU projects, and that might actually be a good thing.

Initially, Lanterns will begin as a surprising and unique story, eventually becoming more connected to the larger DC Universe.

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2026-04-01 04:28