HBO's New James Gunn DCU Show Is Dividing Fans

Published Sep 19, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT Kyle is a senior writer at ScreenRant and has been part of the team for over two years. Having led coverage on The Walking Dead projects alongside Rick & Morty, Kyle is well versed in numerous genres. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Kyle is a passionate journalist who has a keen interest in TV and film. He has six years of experience studying journalism including a HND in Practical Journalism and a BA Honours in Journalism, Media and Communication and History. Alongside his love for TV and film, Kyle enjoys video games, football and Formula 1. Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for HBO's Lanterns.Ever since James Gunn took over as Co-chairman and Co-CEO of DC Studios, there have been endless discussions about whether the superhero franchise is going in the right direction. Creature Commandos acted as a good start, yet critics claimed it was a poor choice to kick off this new universe. Peacemaker season 2 found success, but its finale proved divisive, while Supergirl didn't quite make the impression many fans expected. Superman has easily been the studio's biggest hit since Gunn took over, as the 2025 film performed well at the box office and was generally adored by audiences, which is a triumph DC will want to replicate going forward. The fact that Man of Tomorrow will be the first Superman sequel movie in decades highlights the desire to cash in on this win, especially with the project set to premiere next year. However, the DCU is once again dealing with a mixed reception to its latest outing, as Lanterns has fans split, despite receiving strong reviews. Ever since the first trailer dropped, people have been skeptical, yet the tone and story really surprised everyone. It feels more like a mystery series than a typical superhero show, which plays into why it's so controversial. For some, the gripping narrative and unpredictable direction have been great, standing out from DC's other recent projects. Lanterns expertly combines sci-fi and detective elements to create one of the best shows on TV currently, but not all fans are in agreement. Despite the latest outing scoring a 9.1 rating on IMDb, some comic readers feel that the show is doing a disservice to its protagonists, with Hal Jordan and John Stewart being presented as highly flawed individuals. Although they want to save the world, each of them display negative traits and make questionable decisions that don't show the true heroism of the Green Lanterns. As a result, what could be arguably the greatest entry so far in the DCU is splitting its fan base, which only makes the remaining episodes that much more important. Why HBO’s Lanterns Is Such A Great Show For Non-Comic Fans Going into Lanterns with limited knowledge about the characters or their source material is arguably the ideal way to watch the HBO series. Without having any preconceived expectations, getting to know John Stewart and Hal Jordan is incredibly exciting, as they clearly have good intentions, yet are still morally questionable at times. Seeing their different approaches to being a Green Lantern alongside their contrasting goals and motivations makes for great entertainment, while creating a constant source of tension between them. Likewise, the mysteries throughout the first five episodes were also gripping, since it was impossible to know who to trust. The Manhunter was presented as hostile from the beginning, but despite Antaan and the Guardians both opposing this creature, none of them are 100% good. With the town of Rushville also helping protect the Manhunter, it kept fans guessing about their true identity while also creating questions about why the residents were so determined to help keep this secret. All of this taking place within five episodes made for a thrilling experience without the pacing feeling rushed, and there is still the mystery of Hal Jordan's death to uncover. Even casual fans may know Hal is a prominent Green Lantern character, making them second-guess whether he is actually dead, or if something else is going on. With Guy Gardener making another DCU appearance as part of this investigation, it only adds to the intrigue of this show and its various storylines, especially for those who have seen Superman. Therefore, without having any expectations heading into the series, Lanterns has been nothing but twist after twist in the best way possible. Usually, Green Lantern's lore can be quite complicated, yet the HBO show simplifies things without completely rewriting the franchise. Additionally, Lanterns uses the right amount of sci-fi elements and superhero tropes to keep it feeling like a Green Lantern series, all while making it digestible for newcomers. Some Comic Readers May Be Put Off By Lanterns’ Direction Via MovieStillsDB While Lanterns may be a blast for non-comic fans, those into the source material appear to be having a tougher time getting quite as invested in the show. Firstly, John Stewart's backstory ruffled a few feathers, as, despite not having a canonically consistent history in the comics, his 'chosen one' storyline with abusive parents didn't resonate with everybody. Likewise, this new origin has essentially made John Stewart more powerful than Hal Jordan in Lanterns, which is seldom the case in other Green Lantern stories. Their dynamic has also been the source of criticism, as their constant squabbles over who deserves the ring have frequently come at the expense of others, especially in episode 5. Hal was more than willing to let William Macon and those close to him die so that he could try to go after the Manhunter, while John opted to confront Hal over the ring rather than protect lives. Sure, this fight did eventually lead to John taking out the Manhunter, but it hardly seemed like his plan all along. As a result, seeing these two heroes both display constant flaws is naturally frustrating for comic readers who know they are selfless deep down. Hal's obsession with the ring makes him feel more like an Orange Lantern than a green one, while John spent so much time wanting to inherit the ring as part of his destiny, not to save lives. He does at least have this realization during the episode's closing stages, but Hal doesn't get this kind of opportunity. Instead, his death in the present timeline only creates more reasons for comic fans to be frustrated; as if he really is dead in the DCU, it feels like a waste of the most iconic Green Lantern. These critiques aren't to say all comic fans feel this way, nor does it mean there aren't other aspects these viewers enjoy. However, based on some of the discussions online and the lack of unity towards Lanterns, it's clear there is a split somewhere among the audience. Lanterns’ Bold Direction Is A Good Sign For The DCU Image courtesy of John Johnson/HBO Max So far, the DCU hasn't exactly played things safe, and Lanterns' bold direction continues this, which is a good sign for the studio. It would've been easy to make the first few years of this new universe all about the main members of the Justice League, forcing them together to get as many eyes on DC as possible. Instead, Gunn's universe has given more obscure characters like Peacemaker the spotlight, while making each project feel different, with Lanterns being the perfect example. Fresh from a more action-driven movie like Supergirl, Lanterns could've easily been just another action project featuring as many Green Lantern characters as possible. However, the show opted for something more original, leaning into the detective and mystery elements that make it so memorable. Although Guy Gardner is set to feature, the likes of Kyle Rayner, Jessica Cruz, and Alan Scott haven't been seen, and may not be involved at all, when they could've easily had small roles for the sake of fan service. New episodes of Lanterns release on HBO and HBO Max every Sunday. In addition, the series hasn't shoehorned connections to Superman or Supergirl in and has stood on its own, making the eventual overlap between these characters down the line feel more rewarding. Opting for a fresh tone, narrative, and genre easily makes Lanterns one of the DCU's most ambitious entries yet, and this approach has paid off. Not everything will be a hit, but variety and personality are key to making viewers interested, rather than expecting one big blockbuster film or show after the other. With Clayface being the DCU's next release after Lanterns, it will once again see this universe go in a different direction via a character-specific horror. This wouldn't be possible without taking risks, and the fact that Lanterns has proven mostly successful gives Clayface a similar chance at shining. If this is the long-term plan for the DCU, it's far more exciting than constant action, and based on Lanterns' bold plot, DC's future looks bright. Release Date August 16, 2026 Network HBO Showrunner Chris Mundy Cast Aaron Pierre John Stewart Directors Alik Sakharov, James Hawes, Stephen Williams, Geeta Patel Writers Damon Lindelof, Chris Mundy, Tom King, Vanessa Baden Kelly, Justin Britt-Gibson, Breannah Gibson Franchise(s) DC Universe Creator(s) Tom King, Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof