Back when James Gunn and Peter Safran announced their plans for upcoming DC productions to incite the rebirth of the DC Universe, they had a one-sentence pitch for a series structured around the Green Lantern Corps – set to be available with a Max subscription – that Gunn described as, basically, “True Detective, but with Lanterns.” Sold. That’s all I need.
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.
But now that Lanterns is heading into production, it's time to dig into specifics about the show, which will be part of Gunn’s interconnected world. And as we add more details, they’ll appear in this guide that will take you right up until the eventual premiere of Lanterns, and the reintroduction of the Corps to the world.
What Is Lanterns’ Release Date?
As of December 2024, there's no release date set.
Production Bulletin (via Collider) reports that Lanterns will begin filming on February 10, 2025, and that the shoot will take place in Atlanta, in Los Angeles, and/or in the UK. At the moment, the shoot is expected to last through July 2025, encompassing eight episodes of Lanterns for Max. If these dates holds, that suggests a 2026 release for the show, given the fact that heavy post-production is expected, even with the story being Earthbound. That said, no specific window has been suggested just yet.
Who Has Been Cast In Lanterns?
At the beginning of 2023, James Gunn said that his first attempt at telling a Green Lantern story will involve traditional Lantern heroes Hal Jordan and John Stewart – arguably the most well-known members of the galactic police force. True to their nature in the comics, Hal will be a veteran Lantern, while John will be a younger corps member working with a mentor.
As 2024 rolled along, Lanterns eventually landed on its leading men. Following a flurry of casting rumors that saw names like Josh Brolin attached to the project, Lanterns finally settled on Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights) and Aaron Pierre (Mufasa, Rebel Ridge) to play the intergalactic officers who have come to our planet on an investigation. So far, they will be joined in the Lanterns cast by Poorna Jagannathan, Kelly MacDonald, and Garret Dillahunt of Deadwood fame.
DC writer/expert Tom King spoke briefly about the casting of Hal and John. And while he couldn't mention specifics, he still got us hyped by saying:
You should see these two together. They have amazing chemistry and I couldn’t be more excited. I’m not allowed to say anything except that I can say it’s awesome! We’ve got the perfect cast. When you look at Kyle, you see someone who used to fly jetplanes and embodies Hal. When you look at Aaron, his heart, his soul, and his strength are so John Stewart. He’s so perfect. It’s going to be great.
While many of the Green Lantern adventures have taken place in outer space, Gunn confirmed when he made the Lanterns announcement that the Max series would be “a terrestrial-based mystery.” And adding a little more to the overall importance of the story, producer Peter Safran spoke about the mystery at the heart of Lanterns to Variety, and confirmed:
(It) plays a really big role leading us into the main story that we’re telling across our film and television. So this is a very important show for us.
Where You've Seen Hal and John Before
Where have you seen Hal and John before? Well, the former was notoriously played by Ryan Reynolds in a failed Green Lantern movie that reached theaters back in 2011. John Stewart, however, is primarily known from the various DC Animated movies and shows that have come out over the years, being voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson, Phil LaMarr, and Aldis Hodge, and Lil Yachty.
Yes, Lil Yachyty.
Personally, I love these casting choices. Kyle Chandler has played the surly mentor on screen before. And if you want a sense of the effortless cool that Aaron Pierre brings to the screen, fire up Rebel Ridge if you have a Netflix subscription, and imagine his soldier of fortune wearing a Lantern Corp uniform.
Where Will The Lanterns Show Up First?
James Gunn also made it clear that characters he populates in his DC universe will be able to show up in any project. Which is exactly what happened when Gunn dropped the first trailer for his anticipated Superman movie, and it included a different Lantern – the surly and egotistical Guy Gardner. The classic DC superhero is being played by Nathan Fillion (Firefly, The Rookie) in the DCU, and appears to be part of a team that also includes Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) and Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi). They also don't appear to be on Superman's side in whatever battle is being waged. After appearing in Superman, Fillion is expected to show up in Lanterns whenever it premieres.
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 Lanterns DCU series is putting together a crack team of writers, based on a wonderful pilot script and bible by Chris Mundy, Tom King, and Damon Lindelof. A hearty welcome to Chris and (Damon) as they join the DC Studios family (no welcome necessary for old [Tom King], who has been here nearly since inception).
That’s an incredible brain trust for Lanterns, as Mundy knows his way around murderous mystery, Lindelof excels at Emmy Award-winning world building, and Tom King knows more about DC history and lore than most.
I’ll be very interested to see who steps in to direct the episodes of Lanterns. No one has been confirmed yet. All we know, with regards to the DC Universe, is that Craig Gillespie is tied to Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and that Andy Muschietti (The Flash) is expected to direct The Brave and the Bold.
What Else Has James Gunn Confirmed About Lanterns?
Not a lot, as development on Lanterns just seems to be shifting into gear as we glide into 2025. At the moment, Gunn is heavily involved in completing his Superman feature film, as well as the second season of Peacemaker, with John Cena in the lead.
We will continue to bring you updates on Lanterns as they happen.
