5 Reasons DC’s Lanterns Trailer Is So Divisive

The first trailer for HBO’s Lanterns, a new live-action series in James Gunn’s DC Universe, has been released, and it’s already receiving negative reactions. So far, the rebooted DCU has given us three projects – Creature Commandos, Superman, and Peacemaker Season 2 – all heavily shaped by Gunn. However, this year will be a test, as Supergirl, Lanterns, and Clayface need to demonstrate that the DCU can succeed even with Gunn taking a less direct role.

The first glimpse of this summer’s Supergirl movie was generally well-received, though some viewers noted similarities to Guardians of the Galaxy. DCU fans have also gotten a trailer for Lanterns, a new HBO series debuting in August with Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart. While there’s been a lot of excitement about the show and the people making it, the trailer itself hasn’t impressed many viewers.

Lanterns’ 5 Major Trailer Criticisms Explained

No Extraterrestrials/Space Elements

The Green Lantern stories in DC Comics are heavily rooted in science fiction. Characters like Hal Jordan and John Stewart are selected by the ancient, blue-skinned Guardians of the Universe to protect vast areas of space, and they do so using powerful rings fueled by their own willpower.

Despite the rich potential of the Green Lantern universe, DC Studios has surprisingly decided to start their first adaptation in 15 years with a down-to-earth mystery. Instead of a space-based adventure, they’re focusing on a murder investigation in the American heartland, featuring Green Lanterns who essentially act like police officers. It’s an unusual choice, especially since fans have been waiting a long time to see a faithful adaptation of the Green Lantern world.

The upcoming series Lanterns will introduce Paul Ben-Victor as an alien villain named Antaan, who some fans believe is actually Atrocitus, the creator of the Red Lantern Corps. However, the recent DCU teaser only showed Ben-Victor as a human, leading to worries that the show might not feature many, if any, genuine alien characters.

Little Evidence of Lantern Powers/Constructs

The Green Lantern Corps’ power comes from emerald rings that turn willpower into solid light creations – anything they can imagine. However, the trailer doesn’t show these creations, leading some fans to worry the movie might focus more on detective work than on the Lanterns’ imaginative abilities.

As a huge DC fan, I was really excited to see Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan in the sneak peek, but something felt off. He was flying, yeah, but without the signature green energy we always see in the comics! It turns out, that wasn’t an accident. It looks like they’re doing the same thing with Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner in the Superman movie – no green energy for either Lantern. It seems like this is just the overall visual style they’re going for in the new DCU, a deliberate choice.

Keep in mind that Lanterns is still about five months away from being fully finished, so the visual effects for the energy constructs powered by willpower might not be complete yet. Hints suggest these constructs will be a major part of the show, and the showrunner previously discussed how the powers of Hal Jordan and John Stewart differ.

Dull/Desaturated Visuals

Considering the show Lanterns focuses on two famous Green Lanterns, you’d expect to see a lot of bright green imagery. However, the HBO series actually looks rather muted and gray – it feels more like Yellowstone than a colorful, futuristic DC show.

HBO responded to the criticism about the green tint in the Lanterns trailer with a playful jab, highlighting a green bowl visible in the footage. While DC Studios could still adjust the colors during editing, it might not fully address the show’s intentionally realistic and dark tone.

As a big movie fan, I’ve been following James Gunn’s plans for the DCU closely, and I really appreciate that he’s not afraid to switch things up. It’s great that not every film will feel like a straight-out-of-the-comics adaptation, especially since some of us felt Superman leaned a little too heavily into that style last year. However, I’m not entirely convinced that a more realistic tone was the right choice for the Green Lanterns story. It just doesn’t quite feel like a natural fit, you know?

Hal Jordan’s Portrayal

DC Studios faced criticism for its approach to the Lanterns series, specifically its plan to cast an older actor as a seasoned, almost-retired Hal Jordan. Many fans hoped to see the iconic Green Lantern at the peak of his powers. Ultimately, they chose 60-year-old Kyle Chandler after several well-known actors turned down the role, likely due to the challenges associated with the Green Lantern franchise.

Some viewers feel the trailer portrays Michael Jordan as overly cynical, and they’ve noted his frequent use of profanity. Beyond that, many question the choice to show Jordan as a student learning from John Stewart, especially considering Jordan’s own legendary career.

In the trailer, Jordan appeared to look down on the other Green Lanterns. When Stewart asked if he ever talked to his teammates, Jordan scoffed at the suggestion, even though they’d fought alongside each other for years. He explained that he’s the only human among them, and that the others are aliens – even one that’s essentially a squirrel.

The ‘Brown’ Suit

The biggest complaint about the Lanterns trailer has been Hal Jordan’s superhero suit – even though he doesn’t wear it in the footage. Fans have criticized its dull colors, a mix of dark greens and browns, and the combination of leather and what looks like armored material.

Fans have also questioned why Green Lanterns in the DC Universe wear physical suits, considering their powers often manifest as constructs made of light. The 2011 Green Lantern movie tried to address this by creating the suit entirely with CGI, but most viewers weren’t impressed with the result.

This suit appears to belong to Jordan, a long-time hero in the DC Universe who is likely nearing the end of his career. The suit’s faded colors could represent the wear and tear of many years of service, contrasting with the newer, more vibrant suit John Stewart is using.

2026-03-08 09:36