The DCU is up and running, but one of its most anticipated projects will have fans waiting even longer. This year has been a big one for the newly formed DCU as James Gunn's Superman became the first official movie in the cinematic universe that has some bold plans for the future. The DCU has already moved to the small screen as well, but now comes some disappointing news about its most exciting show.
The Wrap reports that Lanterns, the new HBO series centered around the Green Lanterns in the DC Universe, has pushed its release date back to late summer 2026. While originally expected to premiere early in the new year, the series will now debut after the next DCU movie, Supergirl, which is scheduled to premiere on June 26, 2026.
Lanterns will be an Earth-based story focusing on Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and John Stewart (Aaron Pierre), members of the intergalactic police force known as the Green Lantern Corps. The show boasts some exciting behind-the-scenes talent, with Chris Mundy (Ozark) serving as showrunner, and the series co-written by Tom King (Supergirl) and Damon Lindelof (Watchmen).
Along with Chandler and Pierre leading the show, the cast of Lanterns also includes Kelly Macdonald, Garrett Hedlund, and Ulrich Thomsen. The Green Lantern Corps has already been established in the DCU, with Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner appearing in Superman. Fillion will reprise his role in Lanterns.
Lanterns will show a very different side of the DCU
Despite this new delay, Lanterns is one of the most exciting and important DCU projects on the horizon. Though it deals with an intergalactic police force, the show has been described as a more grounded and darker story than what the DCU has explored so far. It will be a big test for how the cinematic universe can handle different tones.
While the DCU is off to a solid start, the entire universe has been expressed through James Gunn's unique voice and vision so far, with Superman, Peacemaker, and Creature Commandos. Gunn has promised that the DCU will feature a variety of types of projects that focus on the filmmakers' own vision rather than just the overall cinematic universe.
It sounds as though Lanterns will be very different from Superman and Gunn's other shows. It will be interesting to see if the show can exist on its own while also working as a part of the bigger universe. Some of the characters in the show will likely be used in future DCU projects, so it does need to feel like they can exist in the same space to some degree.
The wait may be longer now, but there is plenty to stay excited for with Lanterns. If it is pulled off as a truly great DCU project, it will successfully set the stage for the bold and eclectic cinematic universe that Gunn has been promising.