HBO's Dark Sci-Fi Detective Series 'Lanterns' Would've Fit Perfectly in Zack Snyder's DCEU

Published Sep 3, 2026, 11:50 AM EDT Michael John Petty is a Senior Author for Collider who spends his days writing, in fellowship with his local church, and enjoying each new day with his wife and daughters. At Collider, he writes features, reviews, recaps, and conducts interviews. In addition to writing about stories, Michael has told a few of his own. His novella, The Beast of Bear-tooth Mountain, was released in 2023. His Western short story, The Devil's Left Hand, received the Spur Award for "Best Western Short Fiction" from the Western Writers of America in 2025. Michael currently resides in North Idaho with his growing family. Editor's note: The below contains mild spoilers for Lanterns. After two television shows, an animated series, and two movies (apart from previous franchise holdovers), the DC Universe has been a bit of a mixed bag. The whole thing largely feels like an extension of James Gunn’s particular flavor of superheroes and comic book lore that is certainly not to everyone’s tastes, but Lanterns has been different. The show departs from the DCU's specific tone with a grounded, character-driven detective story that offers an older, wiser, and more beat-down interpretation of Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler). If we didn't know any better, we'd think this series is more in step with the now-defunct DC Extended Universe... 'Lanterns' Feels Like More of an Extension of the DCEU We're not saying that Lanterns gives off DCEU vibes simply because it has a darker tone. Sure, the overall mature nature feels like a departure from the often cartoonish flavor of the DCU, but that's certainly not the entirety of it. Lanterns is the type of storytelling that’s more akin to the DCEU era of live-action material, not just in feel but in theme. Like Zack Snyder’s interpretation of Batman (Ben Affleck), Hal Jordan has been in the hero business too long. For decades, he's protected Earth, sometimes in the spotlight, sometimes not. He fears being replaced and firmly believes that a possible alien conspiracy is plaguing his world. He's an old dog who refuses to play with others outside his particular circle (in this case, other Green Lanterns among the stars), now being forced to after years on his own. The loss of someone close to him — for Batman this was Robin, for Hal it's Sinestro (Ulrich Thomsen) — has likewise disillusioned him regarding his mission. In some respects, John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) doesn’t feel too different from the depiction of Cyborg (Ray Fisher) in Zack Snyder's Justice League. Both characters are somewhat defined by their personal racial struggles and the weight of parental expectation. All the while, these guarded and emotionally conflicted characters seek to prove themselves to the old guard as worthy of the new alien abilities bestowed on them, no matter their personal hopes and desires. There are differences, of course, but in many respects, Lanterns feels more in step with the DCEU. Despite other DCU installments being the furthest thing from "grounded," Lanterns takes the concept of the Green Lantern Corps and distills it as being a group of space cops who investigate alien-related crimes like, well, any other law enforcement type. Their role isn't exactly glitzy or glamorous, and it's a clear departure from Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner (who we met in Superman and will show up on the series sooner rather than later). It’s not hard to imagine how Lanterns may have explained why Hal Jordan wasn't on Earth in Snyder’s film trilogy. The very first episode establishes that he's often busy with other alien threats or even investigating something like the events occurring in Rushville — Lanterns takes place the same year Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice hit theaters. While it’s undoubtedly its own chapter of the larger DC Universe series, Lanterns may have made a larger franchise impact if it had been made during the DCEU era. It may have provided an easy explanation as to why Green Lantern didn't join the rest of the Justice League in the threat against Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds) — outside of WB not letting Snyder use Wayne T. Carr as John Stewart — and even offered insight as to why Batman might not have trusted Hal in the first place. In hindsight, it's almost unfortunate that Lanterns wasn't released a decade ago. The Greater DCU Will Eventually Connect to 'Lanterns' Of course, Lanterns does take place in the DC Universe. No amount of wishful thinking from Snyder fans or frustration with Gunn's overall interpretation of the DC mythos will change that. Not only will Guy Gardner appear in Lanterns (further solidifying that connection), but John Stewart is set to return in Man of Tomorrow as well. Just because Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King were able to tell a self-contained story that doubles as a distinct departure from the usual DCU antics doesn't mean that it will be separate forever. After all, plenty of DC Comics stories are told in various tones in the mainstream comic book universe; would we expect any different from the DCU? Even some of the best DCEU outings, like Wonder Woman and Aquaman, couldn't have been more different. Lanterns is a compelling Green Lantern remix that does what Man of Steel did for Superman. It's a reimagining of one of DC's most popular characters that maintains the core of what makes that character work while playing fast and loose with some events. Whether you prefer the outdated DCEU or the current DCU (which may be in trouble after Supergirl), Lanterns stands proudly on its own. New episodes of Lanterns air on HBO and HBO Max on Sundays.