It’s surprising, but the creators of the new Superman movie—the first film in the DC Universe—actually drew inspiration from a famously unsuccessful superhero film. While the future looks promising for DC under James Gunn and Peter Safran, not all past DC movie adaptations have been hits. Interestingly, when developing characters for the Superman reboot, planned for release in July 2025, DC Studios looked to one of its biggest box office failures for ideas.
A new book about the making of Superman reveals that DC Studios revisited a design from the 2011 Green Lantern movie, starring Ryan Reynolds, when creating the look for the Green Lantern Ring. While Green Lantern was a critical and financial failure – reportedly losing Warner Bros. over $75 million – the prop master who worked on it also contributed to Superman. He presented several ring designs, and the team quickly settled on one, appreciating its simplicity and historical feel. He then pointed out that it was a design originally used in the earlier film.
The Future is Looking Bright for the Green Lanterns in the DCU’s Future
Following the disappointing performance of the 2011 Green Lantern movie, which prevented the start of a new superhero series, the DC Extended Universe largely overlooked the Green Lantern Corps. However, the newly rebooted DC Universe is already changing things by introducing Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner’s Green Lantern. His brief appearance in Superman was impressive, showcasing the Corps’ powerful abilities, like creating objects from solid light, flying, enhanced strength and resilience, and projecting energy fields and beams.
The Green Lantern Corps has been steadily established within the DC Universe, starting with earlier appearances and a brief cameo in Peacemaker season 2. The upcoming Lanterns series, starring Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre, will further expand the Corps’ presence. Fans have waited a long time to see the Green Lanterns done right on screen, and James Gunn and Peter Safran seem poised to deliver. It’s therefore unexpected that the creators drew inspiration from the 2011 Green Lantern movie, which was widely considered a disappointment.
One of the most successful elements of the Green Lantern movie was the Power Ring, making it a smart choice to bring back for future DC projects. The rings themselves – featuring the Green Lantern Corps symbol and holding the power of their users – will be central to the upcoming series Lanterns and other DC Universe stories. Lanterns is set to premiere on HBO Max in mid-2026 as part of the first phase of the DCU, ‘Gods and Monsters,’ and promises a deeper dive into the ring, the relationship between Hal Jordan and John Stewart, and the Green Lantern Corps overall – which fans are eagerly anticipating.
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2025-12-01 22:40