Lanterns: What We Know About Green Lantern’s DCU Streaming Show

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As a long-time fan of the Green Lantern Corps and someone who has followed the comics since I was a kid, I am absolutely thrilled with the direction James Gunn is taking this beloved franchise. The creative team he’s assembling for “Lanterns” is nothing short of phenomenal – Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King are all masters in their respective fields, and their collective talents promise a series that will captivate both long-time fans like myself and newcomers to the world of the Green Lantern Corps.

As a passionate film buff, hearing James Gunn and Peter Safran’s plans for the revival of the DC Universe left me thrilled. When they hinted at a Green Lantern Corps series, structured similarly to “True Detective,” but with a cosmic twist, I was instantly hooked. With this enticing promise, they had me at hello! That single sentence pitch was all it took for me to eagerly anticipate the series, which will be exclusively available on Max.

Mind you, we had been hearing news about a Green Lantern show for years now, but this one promised to be part of an expanding universe of movies and TV shows that began in 2024 with the launch of the animated Creature Commandos, and then continue to loop inSuperman (David Corenswet), Supergirl, (Milly Alcock), The Authority, Batman, and more heroes of the universe. So I understand that some fans may have stopped staying tuned into Green Lantern Corps developments without knowing what’s true and what’s been speculation.

With “Lanterns” moving into production, let’s delve deeper into the show particulars. These details will be part of the universe created by Gunn, and as we continue to reveal more, they’ll be added to this guide leading all the way up to the premiere of “Lanterns”, and the reintroduction of the Corps in the world.

What Is Lanterns’ Release Date? 

As of December 2024, there’s no release date set.

Excitedly, I’m sharing news about “Lanterns”! According to Production Bulletin (via Collider), filming for this anticipated series will start on February 10, 2025. The shooting locations include Atlanta, Los Angeles, and potentially the UK. It’s anticipated that the production will carry on until July 2025, which, if correct, means we might be looking at a 2026 release for this show. This extended timeline is due to the heavy post-production work expected, despite the story being Earthbound. However, an exact release window hasn’t been announced yet. I can hardly wait!

Who Are Lanterns’ Leading Characters? 

Originally, plans were made for the debut Green Lantern series to deviate from its usual narrative and highlight lesser-known members of the corps, specifically Guy Gardner and Alan Scott. This was during the time when creative minds like Greg Berlanti or Seth Grahame-Smith were in charge.

The situation shifted when James Gunn announced his plans for Lanterns at the start of 2023. As director of The Suicide Squad, Gunn revealed that his initial Green Lantern narrative will feature traditional heroes Hal Jordan and John Stewart, who are among the most recognized members of the intergalactic police force. In line with their comic book personas, Hal will portray a seasoned Lantern, while John will be a newer member of the corps working under the guidance of a mentor.

2024 marked a significant turning point for the project known as “Lanterns”. After much speculation with actors such as Josh Brolin being linked to it, the roles of the intergalactic officers eventually went to Kyle Chandler (from “Friday Night Lights”) and Aaron Pierre (who has been in “Mufasa” and “Rebel Ridge”). These two gentlemen will portray the space-faring officers who have arrived on Earth for an investigation. So far, Poorna Jagannathan, Kelly MacDonald, and Garret Dillahunt, best known for their work on “Deadwood”, are also part of the Lanterns cast.

DC scribe Tom King offered a brief insight into the selection of Hal and John, without disclosing any details, yet managed to excite us with his comment: “He left us eagerly anticipating their portrayals.

These two actors make a fantastic pairing! Their on-screen chemistry is electrifying, and I’m thrilled beyond words. Unfortunately, I can only hint at my excitement. But let me tell you, it’s simply extraordinary! The casting couldn’t be more spot-on. When you gaze upon Kyle, he exudes the charisma of a former jet pilot that perfectly captures Hal’s essence. And when you lay your eyes on Aaron, his compassion, depth, and fortitude resonate deeply with John Stewart. He fits the role so well, it’s almost uncanny. I can hardly wait for this production!

Although several Green Lantern stories occur in outer space, when Gunn announced the Max series, he emphasized that it would revolve around a grounded, earthbound mystery. To further highlight the significance of this tale, producer Peter Safran discussed the enigma at the core of the Lanterns with Variety, and confirmed its terrestrial focus.

This series significantly contributes to unfolding the primary narrative throughout our movie and TV productions, making it highly significant for us. Consequently, it holds great importance in our creative process.

Have you encountered Hal (who was portrayed by Ryan Reynolds in the 2011 Green Lantern film) or John before? While Hal made a less successful appearance on the big screen, John has been a recurring character in numerous DC animated productions over the years. He’s been voiced by actors like Kevin Michael Richardson, Phil LaMarr, Aldis Hodge, and Lil Yachty.

Yes, Lil Yachyty.

I’m quite fond of these acting selections myself. Kyle Chandler has demonstrated a knack for playing gruff mentors in past roles. To get an idea of the casual charisma that Aaron Pierre exudes on screen, watch Rebel Ridge (if you have a Netflix account), and envision his character as a member of the Lantern Corp dressed in their uniforms.

Where Will The Lanterns Show Up First? 

James Gunn clarified that characters within his DC universe can appear across various projects, as demonstrated by the initial trailer for his upcoming Superman film, featuring an alternate Lantern – the gruff and arrogant Guy Gardner. This well-known DC character is portrayed by Nathan Fillion (of “Firefly” and “The Rookie”) in the DCU, and it seems he’s part of a group that also includes Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) and Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi). It doesn’t appear they are allied with Superman in whatever conflict unfolds. Following his role in “Superman”, Fillion is anticipated to make an appearance in “Lanterns” whenever it debuts.

Who Are The Creatives Working On Lanterns? 

Again, the creative brain children behind the various Green Lantern Corps shows has changed repeatedly. But as of May 2024, James Gunn shared that Ozark creator Chris Mundy wrote the “Bible” that’s driving the creative direction on Lanterns, and that he will be joined in the writer’s room by Damon Lindelof (Lost, Watchmen) and comics guru Tom King.

As for that team, Gunn wrote in his IG post:

The DCU series titled “Lanterns” is assembling a top-notch group of writers, following an impressive pilot script and guidebook by Chris Mundy, Tom King, and Damon Lindelof. We extend a warm greeting to both Chris and Damon as they become part of the DC Studios family; Tom King, who has been here since almost the beginning, doesn’t need a welcome!

For Lanterns, that’s quite an impressive gathering of minds! Mundy is skilled in crafting intricate murder mysteries, Lindelof shines in creating Emmy Award-winning universes, and King possesses a deep understanding of DC mythos, surpassing many others.

I’m eagerly looking forward to finding out who will take charge of the episodes for the show “Lanterns“. As of now, no one has officially been appointed. In terms of the DC Universe, Craig Gillespie is associated with “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow“, and Andy Muschietti (known for “The Flash“) is rumored to direct “The Brave and the Bold“.

What Else Has James Gunn Confirmed About Lanterns? 

As we approach 2025, it appears that progress on the project called Lanterns is starting to pick up speed. Currently, Gunn is deeply engaged in wrapping up his Superman movie and also working on the second season of Peacemaker, with John Cena as the main character.

We will continue to bring you updates on Lanterns as they happen.

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2024-12-19 22:39