The DCU’s upcoming Lanterns show will introduce a hero and a villain who haven’t appeared in live-action in over thirteen years, though it seems like the series will skip a major part of their story. James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe reinvents all DC characters who have and have not appeared in live-action or animation, on the big or the small screen. The DCEU only referenced the Green Lanterns a few times and featured one on-screen Green Lantern in its ten-year run — the warrior Yalan Gur. Now, the DCU is set to make the Green Lanterns important again with a deep dive into Green Lantern lore.

One of the series that will be part of the DC Universe’s “Gods and Monsters” chapter is the DCU’s upcoming thriller show Lanterns, which will introduce at least two members of the Green Lantern Corps after Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner debuts in Superman. Led by Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre, Lanterns promises to explore a dark Earth-based mystery that may have important repercussions in the future of the DC Universe. Taking into account Hal Jordan and John Stewart’s cosmic responsibilities, the events of Lanterns will likely ripple across the galaxy.

Lanterns Will Finally Revisit Hal Jordan And Sinestro After More Than 13 Years

Hal Jordan And Sinestro Last Appeared On Screen In 2011’s Green Lantern

2011’s Green Lantern followed Ryan Reynolds’ Hal Jordan as he receives the Green Lantern ring and learns how to harness its nearly unlimited uses as Parallax prepares to take over the universe. Meanwhile, Thaal Sinestro grows disillusioned with the Green Lantern Corps, and Parallax’s immense power inspires him to wield a Yellow Lantern ring. After Hal Jordan defeats Parallax on his own, Green Lantern‘s post-credits scene sets up Sinestro’s villain role with a glimpse at his full transformation into a Yellow Lantern.

Green Lantern‘s post-credits scene clearly teased a sequel where Hal Jordan and other Green Lanterns would fight a fear-corrupted Sinestro and perhaps the villain’s own Yellow Lantern Corps. However, Warner Bros. abandoned the Green Lantern universe after it failed to capture critics and audiences, leading to the creation of the DC Extended Universe two years later. After more than ten years of absence, the DCU’s Lanterns show will finally introduce a new version of Hal Jordan and Sinestro, played by Kyle Chandler and Ulrich Thomsen, respectively.

Lanterns Might Skip A Big Part Of Hal Jordan And Sinestro’s Conflict

Lanterns Will Take Place In A Universe Where Several Human Green Lanterns Have Already Protected Sector 2814

As confirmed by DC Studios head James Gunn, the DCU kicks off with a universe that has already witnessed the arrival of countless metahumans, vigilantes, and villains. The Superman trailers suggest Nathan Fillion’s Earth-based Green Lantern Guy Gardner will be a member of a corporate superhero team on Earth, and Lanterns will introduce a veteran Hal Jordan and his colleague John Stewart, who usually succeeds Jordan after Jordan has served the Green Lantern Corps for years. Guy Gardner, Hal Jordan, and John Stewart’s presence in the DCU also suggests that other members of the Corps, like Alan Scott, have already been active superheroes.

Taking this into account, Ulrich Thomsen’s Sinestro is likely to be a seasoned villain by the time he appears in Lanterns. Like 2011’s Green Lantern correctly established, DC Comics’ Thaal Sinestro usually begins his journey as a respected member of the Green Lantern Corps, but he reveals his evil side when he becomes the leader of the Yellow Lanterns and starts a long and hostile feud with Hal Jordan. While Lanterns features both Hal Jordan and Sinestro, it will probably take place long after their rivalry started, which could be a disservice to DC’s two most famous Green Lantern characters.

Hal Jordan And Sinestro’s Story Is Too Important To Gloss Over

Hal Jordan And Sinestro’s Enmity Has Never Been Explored In Live-Action

Throughout their 65-year history, Hal Jordan and Sinestro have developed a feud just as intense as other iconic DC characters. Hal Jordan and Sinestro are the Green Lantern equivalent of Aquaman and Black Manta, Superman and Lex Luthor, and Batman and the Joker. Jordan and Sinestro have repeatedly fought each other to the brink of death, forgiven each other, switched sides, and fought again. Yet, the only live-action movie in which they’ve appeared barely managed to tease their eventual conflict, and their upcoming Lanterns show seems to be skipping forward in their journey.

While Lanterns probably won’t focus exclusively on Hal Jordan and Sinestro, the DCU series could at least revisit their early days fighting each other through flashbacks in order to establish both Lanterns as historical members of their respective Corps. Taking advantage of DCU actors’ ability to reprise their live-action roles, the DCU could also save Hal Jordan and Sinestro’s feud for a future animated project set some time in the past. The Lanterns have such a rich and unexplored history that the DCU might need many projects to get the best out of it.

Upcoming DC Movie Releases

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  Superman

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  July 11, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow

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  June 26, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Batman Part II

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  October 1, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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