Lanterns is one of the most highly anticipated HBO Max releases of 2026. The series is set to bring the popular Green Lanterns officially to the DCU, although Guy Gardner has already appeared in 2025’s Superman.
Unfortunately, the franchise has been surrounded by controversy since the teaser’s debut last month. Lanterns could prove its detractors wrong, but for now, things don’t look good for what should be one of the DCU’s most important titles.
The upcoming Lanterns series has been plagued with bad press since the teaser
Fans already believe the creators have “lost the plot”
The Green Lanterns are one of the most important groups in the entire DC mythos. They have changed a fair bit since their 1940s introduction with Alan Scott, but their popularity has remained fairly consistent throughout the decades. It’s not outlandish to claim that the Green Lanterns are one of the most popular superhero organizations of all time. It’s why all eyes were on the DCU after it announced a Green Lanterns HBO Max series back in January 2023.
For two years, almost nothing had been released about the series aside from somewhat irregular casting updates. Lanterns’ creators are Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King. Aside from the creative team, the plot remained a mystery. The project also experienced several delays, which fueled the controversies for the series, the first of which began during casting.
Fans almost unanimously agreed that Aaron Piere was meant to play John Stewart. His physique, temperament, and background are literally perfect for the character and are shaping him up to be a fan favorite before the show even comes out. The same thing cannot be said for his equally important co-stars.
A plethora of people believe Kyle Chandler is simply too old to play Hal Jordan. He is one of the most popular Lanterns in the entire franchise, so it’s fair to say anyone who played the role would receive some controversy. Yet, the fact that creators were also considering Josh Brolin for the role indicates that they have a particular and aged vision for the popular character. Interestingly enough, the creators have found themselves in similarly hot waters after a series of jokes were apparently misconstrued.
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One of the show’s main controversies comes from the creators themselves
Damon Lindelof has learned the hard way that many fans take things quite literally
Lindelof is one of Lanterns’ co-creators. He’s best known for his work on 2004’s Lost and is nothing short of incredibly talented. His work speaks for itself. Lost might have a seriously controversial ending, but it is still considered one of the best serials of all time. Lindelof’s other work, including Watchmen and The Leftovers, has received similar critical acclaim, which is why his Lanterns’ controversy might be confusing for fans who don’t know the entire situation.
While on the comedy podcast Lovett or Leave It,, Lindelof was asked why the title was shortened from Green Lanterns to simply Lanterns. The series co-creator responded in jest that the color green was “stupid,” which is why it was removed. This was obviously a joke, but the lack of the color green in the Lanterns teaser trailer has led many fans to believe that Lindelof was never joking in the first place.
On March 16, 2025, Lindelof made a post on Instagram walking back his previous jokes. This decision was likely a mix of his own choice and the PR team of the highly anticipated show. The post has been inundated with criticism, aside from several positive comments from many prominent DCU actors, including Nathan Fillion, among others.
Of course, the DC Studios co-CEO, James Gunn, also shared his support for the series co-creator. Yet, that has only provided an opportunity for fans to bring their criticisms to the DC Studios co-chair. Many fans believe his direction for the popular intergalactic police force could be what ultimately makes or breaks the show. Many outspoken fans have highlighted how James Gunn’s more “grounded approach” directly contradicts the Green Lantern Corps at its core.
James Gunn’s more grounded approach is making fans nervous
Green Lanterns simply aren’t meant to be realistic
The Green Lanterns are made up of a majority of intergalactic beings, each dedicated to policing a dedicated part of the galaxy. Restricting The Lanterns to earth for the upcoming series has led many fans to believe the creators might not understand the characters they are adapting. Aside from Lindelof’s off-putting jokes, the series has had little to no promotion surrounding it. Moreover, the teaser trailer, which was supposed to create necessary hype among fans, fell severely flat.
To some fans, everything in the trailer felt off. From Chandler’s Hal Jordan’s interesting teaching methods and the less-than-accurate Green Lantern suit to the lack of powers demonstrated within the trailer and the choice to focus on a rural Midwestern town, nothing about this series seems befitting of the popular Green Lantern Corps. However, James Gunn has maintained his faith in the project and has urged fans to do the same.
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James Gunn’s 2025 Superman film received a fair bit of unnecessary criticism before the movie even reached theaters. It’s entirely possible that every single one of the many controversies will be addressed in the series. Unfortunately, the great deal of criticism laid on the project means that there’s little chance audiences will go into the show with a positive mindset. That being said, how poorly can the series really be with such a talented cast and production team?
Lanterns could either prove fans wrong or become the first pariah of the DCU
Fans could be making a mountain out of a molehill, or they might be completely right
Ultimately, fans will have to wait until August 2026 to see if Lanterns is even worth the criticism. While it’s somewhat strange for a project to receive such backlash before anything is officially released, the show is set to cover one of the most popular groups in all comic book history. Lindelof’s jokes might not have doomed the series, but it definitely helped to form the project’s somewhat illicit reputation. Hopefully, the showrunners can turn things around and release a series that proves all the criticism was based on conjecture.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
