With James Gunn building his new DC Universe, 2026 is shaping up to be a huge year for DC fans. Several connected movies and shows are planned, and the anticipation is really building. One of the most exciting projects is “Lanterns,” an HBO series that will finally give the Green Lantern story the live-action treatment it deserves.
This show is important because it brings the Green Lantern Corps back to live-action after a long hiatus – it’s been since the 2011 Green Lantern movie. It also explores an idea that was previously considered for the DC Universe under Zack Snyder. Before James Gunn’s recent reboot, Snyder had planned to introduce a Green Lantern character who ultimately didn’t appear in any films.
After Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) made an appearance in Superman, the series Lanterns will focus on Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler). Even better, he won’t be the only Green Lantern – the show will also introduce John Stewart (Aaron Pierre), a character Zack Snyder had planned to include in his Justice League movie but ultimately didn’t, bringing a previously shelved idea to life.
John Stewart Was Supposed To Appear In Zack Snyder’s Justice League
Zack Snyder Had Already Planned A Major Green Lantern Introduction
The ending of Zack Snyder’s Justice League suggested a larger universe was in the works, with Bruce Wayne encountering Martian Manhunter who warned of future dangers. Initially, this scene was planned to include a Green Lantern – John Stewart, played by Wayne T. Carr – instead.
Zack Snyder revealed that the character who visited Bruce Wayne was originally intended to be John Stewart, instead of Martian Manhunter. The plan was to subtly introduce a new hero at the end of the film, hinting at the expansion of the Justice League. This would have marked the first official appearance of a Green Lantern in the DC Extended Universe.
Choosing John Stewart as Green Lantern was intentional. While Hal Jordan had already been featured in the 2011 movie, Stewart is best known from the animated series Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. Many fans first experienced the Justice League through those shows, and for them, Stewart is the definitive Green Lantern. Snyder’s decision leveraged that existing connection with fans.
The brief appearance of John Stewart in Zack Snyder’s Justice League wasn’t just a hint at future plans. It was intended to show him already working as a hero on Earth, separate from the main Justice League, until a crisis required him to join them. Given the existing threats like Darkseid, his role felt natural and logical within the story.
As a huge fan, I always thought Zack Snyder’s idea to bring John Stewart and the Green Lanterns into the DC universe was brilliant. It was so frustrating to see that plan never come to fruition, especially since his Justice League hinted at such a large, cosmic world but was missing one of DC’s biggest space-faring heroes! Now, with the Lanterns project, it feels like they finally have a real chance to give those characters the spotlight they deserve and fill that important gap.
Why There Was Not A Green Lantern In Zack Snyder’s Justice League Roster
Studio Decisions Left The DCEU Without One Of DC’s Biggest Heroes
The decision to leave Green Lantern out of Zack Snyder’s Justice League wasn’t a creative choice. It happened because of various decisions made behind the scenes, largely due to concerns after the 2011 Green Lantern movie starring Ryan Reynolds wasn’t successful. Warner Bros. was hesitant to revisit the character after that film’s poor performance.
The studio was already working on a new Green Lantern movie, independent of Zack Snyder’s films. Introducing John Stewart in Justice League would have meant coordinating those two projects, and Warner Bros. didn’t want to do that, so the character was essentially put on hold.
Zack Snyder faced a challenge. His vision for the Justice League film explored the more fantastical side of DC Comics, with the powerful Darkseid as a major threat. Because stories of that size in the comics often involve Green Lanterns protecting the universe, their inclusion felt necessary.
The Justice League in the DC Extended Universe didn’t quite feel complete without a Green Lantern. While Superman, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman were powerful enough to face incredibly strong enemies, the team’s overall potential was limited by not having someone focused on maintaining peace across the galaxy.
This decision also brought to light a larger issue with the Snyderverse: interesting ideas for the future were often presented but never fully developed. The planned appearance of John Stewart is a good example – it symbolized potential storylines that ultimately went nowhere.
When Zack Snyder’s Justice League was finally released, the DC Extended Universe was already moving in a different direction. This meant the chance to naturally include a Green Lantern character in that storyline had come and gone, leaving fans to imagine how things could have turned out.
The Green Lanterns Will Finally Have Their Time To Shine In 2026
The DCU Is Finally Treating Green Lantern As A Cornerstone Franchise
The Green Lanterns are a cornerstone of DC Comics, arguably as important to the company’s history as the Justice League. For decades, their stories – ranging from grand space adventures to intimate character studies – have driven some of the most memorable plots in both comic books and animated series. It’s always seemed surprising that they haven’t achieved the same level of success in live-action films.
The new series, Lanterns, signals a shift in strategy for the DC Universe. Instead of immediately making a big-budget movie, they’re building the world of the Green Lanterns with a more realistic HBO series. This approach gives them the space to thoroughly develop characters like Hal Jordan and John Stewart, and explore the wider impact of the Green Lantern Corps without the demands of a single, massive film.
This strategy recognizes what fans have known for a while: Green Lantern is strongest when it features a large-scale universe combined with well-developed characters. Animated series like the 2012 show Green Lantern: The Animated Series demonstrated that audiences connect with stories that balance exciting visuals with genuine emotional depth.
Okay, so bringing John Stewart into the DC Universe on screen is a big deal. He’s not just a backup Green Lantern to Hal Jordan; he’s a hero on equal footing, with a totally different perspective and a dedicated fanbase that’s been waiting for this. Honestly, the fact that it’s taken so long to see him in live action just makes his arrival even more exciting. I’m really looking forward to seeing what they do with him!
For a long time, DC’s plans for Green Lantern felt uncertain. Now, the DC Universe is truly making Green Lantern a central character, not just a side project. The new series, Lanterns, is taking an idea that didn’t work in the previous DC film universe and turning it into something special, addressing a long-held disappointment among fans.
DC fans have been waiting for this! In 2026, the Green Lanterns will finally be a major part of the live-action DC universe, and it all starts with the new series, Lanterns.
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2026-01-01 14:00