James Gunn shares exciting update on DCU’s “terrific” Lanterns series

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Although lanterns may not receive as much buzz as Superman and Batman, they are rapidly becoming one of the most intriguing upcoming projects in James Gunn‘s DC Universe. In fact, Gunn has likened this project to the intensity of True Detective and No Country for Old Men.

The history of Green Lantern on screen is quite complex. In 2011’s Green Lantern film, Ryan Reynolds attempted to portray Hal Jordan, but the movie didn’t fare well – it received negative reviews (with a rating of just 25% on Rotten Tomatoes). Later on, Reynolds himself acknowledged that the production focused more on creating spectacle rather than developing the characters.

In the early 2020s, HBO Max initially attempted to produce a live-action Green Lantern series, led by Greg Berlanti. However, this version was put on hold during the reorganization of the DC Universe. Instead, the new TV show titled “Lanterns” has emerged, marking a significant shift and feeling like a genuine milestone.

Featuring Kyle Chandler portraying Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre playing John Stewart in an investigation of a murder on Earth, this high-end superhero series is generating anticipation. The creative team behind it has given us reasons to look forward to the Green Lanterns.

DCU series Lanterns achieves production milestone 

According to a recent chat with Entertainment Weekly, Gunn has revealed that the production of “Lanterns” is currently halfway completed. We can expect to catch glimpses of the early episodes soon, and if everything goes as planned, it should meet its 2026 release target.

In simpler terms, the co-CEO of DC Studios explained that he’s taken a less involved role in the development of this particular series compared to projects like Superman and Supergirl.

Whenever I come across truly exceptional individuals, like Damon Lindelof, Chris Mundy, and Tom King, who are in charge of ‘Lanterns’, I review their scripts, offer suggestions, but then I step back and let them carry on with their work.

In essence, I’ll review the daily footage to ensure everything is running smoothly. Once we receive the edits, likely next week, I plan on watching those as well.

During the editing process, I’ll provide feedback on particular scenes. In contrast, during the scriptwriting phase for ‘Supergirl’, I played a more active role, as it was one of the initial concepts I developed after joining DC.

Additionally, here’s another piece of news from this week. The director of Slow Horses, James Hawes, who directed the initial two episodes of Lanterns, recently featured on the Phase Hero podcast to give insights into the show’s overall feel.

When asked about his motivation, Hawes clarified, “It’s a mix of factors actually. I usually don’t venture into such genres, but the allure of the writing was too strong. Chris Mundy and Damon Lindelof, known for their work on shows like Ozarks and True Detective, were the primary draw.

The dialogues are clever and full of personality, reminiscent of a buddy cop film unfolding before our eyes. There’s a hint of the gritty realism found in shows like True Detective, Fargo, and No Country for Old Men, but with an unexpected twist – someone takes flight.

2026 is when I’ll get my hands on Lanterns, but no exact release date has been set yet. In the meantime, I’m diving deep into all the upcoming DC Universe TV shows and movies. Here’s a sneak peek at The Batman 2 and why Robert Pattinson could be an outstanding addition as the new Batman in the DC Universe.

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2025-06-20 12:48