New Lanterns Footage Reignites “Green” Criticism From DC Fans

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2026 promises to be an exciting year for DC Comics enthusiasts. Moviegoers can anticipate the releases of Supergirl and Clayface, while television viewers will finally see the long-awaited Lanterns series debut on HBO Max in August. Although fans have been hoping for a live-action Green Lanterns adaptation for over ten years, ever since the 2011 film underperformed, the new series is facing some criticism. Initial previews have sparked debate about how closely the show will follow the comic book source material, and recently released footage has intensified these concerns, especially regarding the visual appearance of the iconic “green” elements in Lanterns. Fans are definitely sharing their opinions!

A new trailer for upcoming HBO Max shows gave fans a first glimpse at highly anticipated series like Harry Potter, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, and the next season of The Gilded Age. It also featured a new look at Lanterns, showcasing Kyle Chandler as Green Lantern, fully suited up as Hal Jordan. The suit has a more armored design than some comic book fans might be used to, but the biggest point of discussion is the color. While hints of green are present, the footage is heavily tinted with blue, creating a darker, moodier look that has fans wondering where the traditional green color is.

DC Fans Want to Know Where’s the Green?

As a huge fan, I’ve been scrolling through all the reactions to the Lantern suit online, and the biggest complaint seems to be the color – or lack of it! Everyone immediately noticed how muted the footage was, and a lot of us are jokingly calling it the “Gray Lantern” instead of Green Lantern. We’re all wondering where the vibrant green we expect is!

Others felt the colors were more muddy and brown than green or grey and even went so far as to come up with a new version of the Green Lantern Oath to better suit the unusual color choice (and it’s admittedly pretty funny and oddly fitting.)

However, not everyone was particularly critical of the suit’s design or its colors. Some fans noted that the version of Hal Jordan that Chandler is playing in Lanterns is older so it would make a bit more sense that his suit might be older and, thus, less vibrant. Another fan noted that the suit also looked like it had actually seen battle—which could account for the lack of color. After all, battle would probably dull its shine.

Does the Suit Really Need to Be Green?

It’s hard to say exactly how color, especially green, will be used in the upcoming series Lanterns until we actually see it. Showrunner Chris Mundy has hinted that green will appear, but the show aims for a more realistic feel than the often vibrant and colorful comics. While some fans might find this grounded approach different from what they expect, it doesn’t mean the series is abandoning the spirit of Green Lantern or being disrespectful to the source material.

The idea behind Green Lantern – essentially space police – is simple, but the characters like Hal Jordan and John Stewart are far more complex in the DC Comics. Some Green Lantern stories, especially those set on Earth, are surprisingly realistic – the Green Lantern/Green Arrow Hard Traveling Heroes series is a great example. Comics also use color as a storytelling tool in a way that isn’t always necessary for live-action adaptations. Film and television can convey story, action, and emotion through movement, sound, and music, while comics rely more on visual elements like a bright, vibrant green to achieve the same effect.

We also don’t yet know the complete storyline of the upcoming Lanterns series. Some fans have pointed out that the Green Lantern suit shown in the preview footage might be an older model, suggesting Hal Jordan is experienced, perhaps even nearing retirement. Since he’s the only Lantern we’ve seen in costume so far, we have no idea what other Lanterns will look like – there could be many more wearing green suits.

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2026-05-26 00:10