James Gunn Admits One DCU Hero Could “Absolutely” Beat Superman (& There Could Be More)

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James Gunn suggests that at least one hero – or a team of heroes – in the DC Universe is powerful enough to defeat Superman. We may see this hinted at in the upcoming *Lanterns* series. While the *Superman* movie coming in 2025 calls Superman the most powerful metahuman, Gunn’s recent statements seem to challenge that idea. With news about projects like *Man of Tomorrow* generating buzz, Gunn’s latest comments are adding to the excitement for what DC has planned.

James Gunn recently discussed the power of the Green Lantern Corps during an appearance on *The Howard Stern Show* (as reported by *Deadline*). Stern mentioned his long-held belief that Green Lantern could defeat Superman, and Gunn agreed, confirming they are incredibly powerful. We’ve already met one Green Lantern in the DCU – Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner – and he might be the character Gunn was referencing. However, the upcoming HBO series *Lanterns* will introduce even more Green Lanterns who are also capable of challenging Superman.

Will Superman Fight Green Lanterns in the DCU?

Given that Superman and the Green Lanterns are both dedicated to doing good, a full-blown fight between them seems unlikely in the DC Universe. However, there was already some tension shown between Superman (played by David Corenswet) and Green Lantern Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) in the recent *Superman* movie, which could lead to conflict later on. The upcoming HBO Max series *Lanterns*, expected in early 2026, will introduce even more Green Lanterns – including Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) – who might be powerful enough to challenge Superman.

Superman and Green Lantern (specifically Hal Jordan) have fought several times in DC Comics, making a live-action version in the new DCU quite likely. James Gunn has suggested a Green Lantern could actually defeat Superman, and this conflict might be featured in the *Lanterns* series or the upcoming *Man of Tomorrow* film. *Man of Tomorrow* will pit Superman and Lex Luthor (played by Nicholas Hoult) against a larger enemy, and that enemy could very well be a Green Lantern gone bad.

In the pages of *Superman*, Guy Gardner demonstrated remarkable abilities with his Power Ring. He could build energy constructs to accomplish amazing things – like flipping tanks, battling giant monsters, and even overcoming gravity. This showed he and the other Green Lanterns could potentially go toe-to-toe with Superman. While Superman and the Green Lanterns are typically allies, it would be exciting to see them clash in a future DC Universe movie or show, though that showdown might be a while off.

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2025-09-16 15:10