Lanterns’ Latest Update Should Worry Hal Jordan Fans

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The HBO series Lanterns will debut in August, and recent news has revealed more about the show. Among the details, some information may concern fans of Hal Jordan, as it relates to Kyle Chandler’s portrayal of the character.

The new DC TV show about Green Lantern is handling the character very differently from the 2011 movie. Instead of telling the origin story of Hal Jordan like the film starring Ryan Reynolds did, this show introduces Hal, played by Nathan Fillion, as an experienced Green Lantern who is mentoring John Stewart, played by Aaron Pierre, to become the next Lantern.

Though viewers expected tension between Hal and John in the series, the latest updates from Lanterns explain the reasons behind it. Series creator Chris Mundy also discussed Hal’s training with Sinestro (played by Ulrich Thomsen) and confirmed that Lanterns will jump between two different time periods.

Considering this new evidence, it’s increasingly likely that Lanterns will lead Hal Jordan down a dangerous and potentially villainous path. Similar to how he was corrupted by Parallax in the comics, he could end up transforming from a hero into a villain within the DC Universe.

The New Lanterns Update Has Me Concerned For Hal Jordan

The difficult relationship between Hal and John in Lanterns is more complex than the typical ‘partners who start off clashing’ storyline. Usually, a new Green Lantern is chosen by the ring because they’ve demonstrated the ability to conquer fear, often after the previous Lantern has died. This is how Hal Jordan became a Green Lantern when Abin Sur died on Earth.

In the DC Universe, John Stewart was chosen directly by the Guardians of the Universe, who lead the Green Lantern Corps. This is a first – the Guardians apparently had a good reason for singling him out. Because Hal Jordan is now training John as his potential successor, it suggests the Guardians might have concerns about Hal, leading them to involve John.

The story highlights that Hal is John’s unwilling teacher, constantly frustrated by how John earned his Green Lantern ring. It seems Hal isn’t choosing to retire and train John, but is instead being pushed aside.

Hal’s actions are worrying, and it’s also worth considering what he learned from Sinestro, both good and bad. It’s possible Hal is unintentionally teaching John some questionable techniques he picked up from Sinestro, who was already expelled from the Green Lantern Corps when the story starts.

Let’s look at the timelines in Lanterns. Hal and John’s story unfolds in 2016, while a central mystery is set in 2026. Also, following the events of the Superman movie, there are at least two Green Lanterns active on Earth: John Stewart and Guy Gardner (played by Nathan Fillion).

Can Lanterns Follow Hal Jordan’s Villainous Comic Story?

Considering all the clues, it seems likely that Hal will face a major challenge in Lanterns. Instead of dying, he might turn against his allies, similar to how Sinestro did. The big question is whether the show can successfully translate Hal’s complex story with Parallax from the comic books.

The new Green Lantern series will still have the epic, space-spanning elements fans expect, but it’s also aiming for a more realistic and gritty feel, much like the HBO show True Detective. However, the villain Parallax remains a truly otherworldly and fantastical threat.

Even setting aside the revelation that Parallax was a fear-based entity controlling Hal Jordan, his time as Parallax in the 1990s involved incredibly high stakes: he destroyed the Green Lantern Corps, tried to change the past, and ultimately found redemption by sacrificing himself to save Earth. Adapting such a complex storyline for a show like Lanterns will be challenging, particularly with a smaller budget than a potential movie adaptation would have.

Hal’s Villainy Could Be Depicted In Various Ways

If Hal Jordan were to become a villain, it would probably be a subtle change. He might be influenced by fear, but wouldn’t drastically change his appearance or try to alter the world. This corruption could also explain why Guy Gardner might become a Green Lantern by 2026, as he doesn’t seem to be involved in the current 2016 story.

The upcoming ‘Lanterns’ series might show what happened to Hal Jordan after his downfall in 2016, possibly by featuring a weakened version of Parallax or another storyline. Then, ten years later, he could return as a fully developed villain, or it might be revealed that he’s either died or been banished to a distant part of the universe.

If Hal survives to the end of the season, the writers can further develop this darker side of his character. Because the show’s creator hopes Lanterns will run for multiple seasons, season two would be the natural time to explore that if the show gets renewed.

Another possibility is to bring Hal Jordan back into the DC Universe through a different project. This has been done before with Green Lantern – Guy Gardner showed up in the first episode of Peacemaker season 2 after appearing in Superman, and both he and John Stewart will be in Man of Tomorrow. If Hal were to become Parallax, featuring him in a movie would be a great way to portray that version of the character more accurately, like in the comics.

Fans who like Hal Jordan as a good guy might be worried about his future in the upcoming Lanterns story. It seems like something will happen to both Hal and John Stewart when they go to Nebraska in 2016, and it’s likely to lead Hal down a troubling path.

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2026-05-17 01:49