The DC Universe will have the iconic Green Lanterns Hal Jordan and John Stewart co-star in the upcoming TV series Lanterns, which could be the opposite of the last live-action Green Lantern property. The Green Lantern mythos is one of the most fascinating corners of the DC Comics universes, providing the mainstream timelines with some of their most beloved heroes, though Green Lantern adaptations, unfortunately, have not been consistently successful. 2011’s Green Lantern film was a critical and commercial failure, negatively affecting better Green Lantern properties and reducing confidence in the IP as a whole.

Green Lantern has long been a staple of DC, but the mythos gained even more popularity in the Silver Age with the introduction of Hal Jordan and the Modern Age with John Stewart. Stewart was a main cast member in the DC Animated Universe timeline and its beloved Justice League animated shows, and Jordan saw similar success in the tragically short-lived Green Lantern: The Animated Series. The HBO Lanterns show story seems poised to take an entirely different approach to the Green Lantern mythos than the 2011 film, which could make the upcoming DCU release far more appealing.

The Green Lantern Animated Series was made to promote the 2011 film, and while the show is easily one of the best Green Lantern adaptations, the film’s failure indirectly led to the show being canceled after one season.

DCU's Lanterns Series Is Already Shaping Up To Be The Opposite Of The Previous Green Lantern Movie

The official logline for Lanterns reads: “The series follows new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.” Although Hal Jordan and John Stewart battle villains throughout the cosmos, this description paints a picture of a far more grounded Green Lantern adaptation, leaning into the “space cop” side of Green Lantern Corps. This is, notably, the opposite of how the 2011 Green Lantern film depicted the adventures of Hal Jordan.

Despite being based on some of DC’s greatest comic source material, 2011’s Green Lantern was arguably too special effects and lore-heavy, speeding through Hal Jordan’s origin story and pitting him against Parallax – the embodiment of sentient fear and the entity of yellow fear energy – in his first outing. The film also sped through Hal Jordan and Thaal Sinestro’s relationship, quickly granting the latter his Qwardian Yellow Ring instead of taking time to gradually show his downfall. 2011’s Green Lantern was well-intentioned, but it simply lacked the necessary relatability and human elements that endear readers and viewers to the property.

Why DCU Needs A Grounded Green Lantern Story

The Green Lantern comics are epic and high concept, melding superhero fiction with space operas, yet it is the people using the Power Rings that are often more appealing than the grand science-fiction lore. Viewers instantly became attached to John Stewart in the DCAU and Hal Jordan in Green Lantern: The Animated Series episodes because they were layered and likable characters who underwent character development, in addition to having spectacular powers and grandiose battles. By starting with a relatively small storyline and honing in on Hal Jordan and John Stewart as people, Lanterns could succeed where the 2011 film failed.