HBO’s Lanterns Just Lost Green Lantern Fans With One Disappointing Reveal

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Honestly, it feels like the new Lanterns series just can’t win. From the start, the marketing has been getting a lot of flak. Remember how it felt like forever before we even got a decent look at Aaron Pierre as John Stewart and Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan? Then, when the first trailer dropped, people weren’t thrilled – it looked way more like Yellowstone or True Detective than a big, colorful space opera, and apparently, that was the point! It’s just… a strange vibe for a Green Lantern story, you know?

The show Lanterns seems to be taking some liberties with established Green Lantern mythology. The Green Lantern Corps hasn’t been well-developed within the larger DC Universe, and Hal Jordan even suggests he doesn’t much care for it. The show’s first poster adds to these concerns, though it might be understandable given the specific story it’s trying to tell and how it fits into the overall canon.

Lanterns’ First Poster Is Stirring The Pot

I just got a look at the first poster for Lanterns, and it’s pretty striking. It’s a massive Green Lantern ring, with Hal Jordan and John Stewart looking small on the band, all against a bright green backdrop. But honestly, it’s the tagline that really grabbed my attention: “Only one can wear the ring.” That’s… intense, and definitely sets up some serious conflict. It makes you wonder who’s going to be left out, and what that will mean for the future of the Lanterns!

This tagline is inaccurate, especially when considering established DC and Green Lantern lore. Traditionally, there have been numerous Green Lanterns and several other power-based groups represented by different colors. Furthermore, the recent Superman movie already introduced Guy Gardner as a Green Lantern, making this tagline even more confusing.

This tagline most likely suggests that John can only become a Green Lantern if Hal Jordan steps down and gives him the power ring. It seems Hal might be training John to eventually replace him, but it’s happening in a strange and difficult way – even putting John in dangerous situations, like pushing him off a cliff in a car, as part of the training.

The relationship between John and Hal could be compelling, especially if they’re fighting over control of the power ring. One might need it for missions while the other is unwilling to relinquish it, potentially leaving someone vulnerable. This tension is hinted at in the first trailer for Lanterns, where John questions their training – “With all due respect, we’ve been training for, what, two months? And I haven’t even worn the ring yet” – as Hal looks at the ring he’s wearing.

DCU Lantern Lore Is Hard To Parse

The backstory of the power rings in the comics is pretty complicated, but John Stewart was initially chosen to be a backup Green Lantern to Hal Jordan. The HBO show seems to be drawing from this, showing John fully embracing becoming a Lantern even though he doesn’t know much about them at first. For example, he asks Hal if he’s spoken to other Lanterns and learns that they’re actually aliens.

John might find out he was selected as Hal’s backup in the Lanterns TV series, and can only become a Lantern himself if Hal gives up the ring – or is no longer able to use it. Hopefully, Lanterns will explain this situation, as it would fit with the show’s tagline if there’s only one power ring for both of them.

Lanterns is scheduled to premiere on HBO Max on August 16, 2026.

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2026-05-02 17:08