The depiction of the Green Lanterns’ powers in Superman already looks great, signaling a promising future for James Gunn’s DC Universe. As was confirmed in one of the earliest announcements regarding Superman‘s ensemble cast, the film will feature a Green Lantern in the form of Guy Gardner. While it is unclear what kind of role Guy will play in James Gunn’s Superman movie, Nathan Fillion will bring the obnoxious hero to life in the DC Universe before appearing once more in Peacemaker season 2.
For the most part, Guy simply seems like a supporting hero that already exists in the DCU at the onset of Superman. The brief glimpses of the character, especially those in Superman‘s official trailer, imply that Guy will help Superman throughout the movie alongside Mister Terrific and Hawkgirl. Be that fighting off Superman‘s many villains or simply opening Kal-El’s eyes to the possibilities of other superheroes being in this world, Guy will be the first Green Lantern to appear in the franchise. Based on how his powers are depicted, I am confident this bodes well for the DCU’s future.
Guy Gardner’s Green Lantern Powers In Superman Look Great
Especially In The Official Trailer
In the first teaser trailer for Superman, Guy Gardner’s powers were barely shown. All that was highlighted was Guy shooting a beam of green light from his Lantern ring to block the windows of the Stagg Industries building so that the crowd outside could not see him and Superman. This was akin to the beams of light shown being used in Zack Snyder’s Justice League by a Green Lantern, with both instances being somewhat unimaginative compared to what we know the members of the Corps can do.
In the official trailer for Superman, though, two bigger, better uses of Guy’s Green Lantern powers were shown. The first is less clear and concerns the giant, eye-like pink alien that has appeared in the background of several pieces of marketing for Superman. At one point, a giant green net can be seen encircling the unknown threat, undoubtedly conjured by Guy Gardner. The second instance of Guy using an actual Green Lantern construct comes as he summons a giant green hand to swat a truck and a soldier away from him.
Already these constructs seem more impressive than the simple beams of light that have been presented in recent Green Lantern media, especially in live-action. Although I am certain the powers of the Green Lanterns will only grow more creative as the DCU continues, Guy’s look great in Superman. Thanks to this, the future of the DCU’s Chapter One: Gods and Monsters seems more promising.
The Future Of The Green Lanterns In James Gunn’s DC Universe Explained
The Corps Has A Big Future
One reason why Guy’s depiction in Superman is so promising for the future of the franchise is how pivotal it will be to depict the Green Lantern Corps well. The DCU’s Green Lanterns are set to appear in several upcoming projects, with one being the aforementioned Peacemaker season 2. Like Superman, it is unclear how big a role Guy Gardner will play in Peacemaker, but his appearance in another DCU project proves how these characters will be integral to the franchise going forward.
James Gunn insisted that Lanterns will be released around the same time as Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, which currently holds a release date of June 26, 2026.
Even beyond that, there is the DCU’s Lanterns TV show. This show will introduce two of the more well-known Green Lanterns from DC Comics: Hal Jordan and John Stewart. These two will be played by Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre respectively, with their story being billed as a True Detective-style mystery show. The two will be investigating a murder in Nebraska, which leads them to darker secrets. Lanterns is already filming, with a 2026 release date on HBO Max planned for the show.
The DC Universe Getting The Green Lanterns Right Is Crucial
Based On What We Have Heard About The Corps
Evidently, the Green Lantern Corps will have a big role in many upcoming DC movies and shows, be that Superman, Peacemaker, or Lanterns. If anything, these many appearances of the characters only prove that getting the Green Lantern Corps correct in the DCU is crucial. Stemming from that, James Gunn and Peter Safran confirmed that the story of Lanterns will be critical to the overarching narrative of the DCU’s first chapter of storytelling.
Whether the show’s importance to the wider DCU has changed or not remains to be seen, but with Guy Gardner, Hal Jordan, and John Stewart all playing vital roles in the early DCU projects, it seems as though it has not. This only reinforces the idea that the Green Lantern Corps is essential to the wider DC Universe, meaning getting each individual character right is equally important. The depiction of Guy in Superman is a sign that James Gunn is finally nailing the Green Lanterns in live-action, which only bodes well for Lanterns.
Getting The Green Lanterns Right In Live-Action Is Long Overdue
The Lanterns Have Been Underutilized In Live-Action DC Projects
Aside from being important to the overall DCU, getting the Green Lanterns right will have another benefit. In live-action, the Corps have failed to reach the heights many know they can reach from the comics or DC’s animated stories. After all, 2011’s Green Lantern is an infamous flop, earning only $237 million worldwide on a $200 million budget. The movie was also panned by critics and fans alike, who agreed it did not translate the potential of the comic book stories featuring Hal Jordan and his other Green Lantern allies.
Guy Gardner’s appearance in Superman is only the first step in this resurgence, with continued appearances and 2026’s Lanterns only solidifying the importance of the characters in live-action…
Due to how severely 2011’s Green Lantern failed, live-action depictions of any Green Lantern disappeared. The DCEU did not include a single Green Lantern character until 2021’s Zack Snyder’s Justice League, and even then, the character of Yalan Gur appeared for only a matter of moments. Teases were included in the Arrowverse that spawned theories about a Green Lantern being involved in the live-action TV side of DC, but nothing ever came to fruition.
After years of the Green Lantern Corps being absent, it seems the DCU is finally fixing this long overdue mistake. Guy Gardner’s appearance in Superman is only the first step in this resurgence, with continued appearances and 2026’s Lanterns only solidifying the importance of the characters in live-action for the first time in a while. If the brief glimpses of Superman‘s Green Lantern are anything to go by, it seems these characters will finally be given the credit they deserve.
