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Tom Russell
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Tom is a Senior Staff Writer at Screen Rant, with expertise covering all things Classic TV from hilarious sitcoms to jaw-dropping sci-fi.
Initially he was an Updates writer, though before long he found his way to the Classic TV team. He now spends his days keeping Screen Rant readers informed about the TV shows of yesteryear, whether it's recommending hidden gems that may have been missed by genre fans or deep diving into ways your favorite shows have (or haven't) stood the test of time.
Tom is based in the UK and when he's not writing about TV shows, he's watching them. He's also an avid horror fiction writer, gamer, and has a Dungeons and Dragons habit that he tries (and fails) to keep in check.
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HBO’s Lanterns is quickly emerging as one of the most anticipated projects in James Gunn’s new DCU slate. Even though official details remain scarce, rumors about a privately screened Lanterns teaser trailer have fans buzzing. Early descriptions suggest a grounded, atmospheric approach to the Green Lantern mythos, making the series a potential flagship title for DC Studios’ TV output.
That trailer has also kicked the rumor mill into overdrive. Beyond teasing the tone and character dynamics of Lanterns, the footage reportedly hints at larger DCU connections. One of the biggest theories concerns the possible existence of the Justice Society of America, one of DC Comics’ most important and historic superhero teams.
It’s already been reported this year that Jeremy Irvine will play Alan Scott in Lanterns (via Deadline). As the JSA’s original ring-wielder, Scott’s presence among Hal Jordan, John Stewart, and Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner suggests Lanterns will honor the wider legacy of Green Lantern heroes. How exactly the series will weave these eras together remains one of its most debated mysteries.
Lanterns' First Trailer Confirms That Hal Jordan Is Not John Stewart's First Teacher
Hal Jordan And John Stewart’s Partnership May Already Be Strained Before Lanterns Begins
The reported Lanterns teaser allegedly sheds surprising light on the mentor-mentee relationship between Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and John Stewart (Aaron Pierre). While Hal has often served as John’s primary guide in the comics, the trailer indicates that this won’t be the case in the DCU. Instead, Hal’s role in Lanterns appears more complicated, and far less enthusiastic, than many fans expected.
Early descriptions claim the Lanterns teaser presents Hal as a hardened, reluctant figure. He’s still a veteran Green Lantern, but he seems far less eager to lead, train, or even collaborate closely with others. This jaded version of Hal contrasts sharply with John’s reported portrayal as principled, determined, and far more optimistic. Their dynamic could be one of the show’s central sources of tension.
Most intriguingly, the Lanterns trailer suggests that Hal isn’t John’s first teacher. This is a major shift that reframes their relationship entirely. Rather than stepping into a classic mentor role, Hal may end up inheriting a student who’s already been partially trained, potentially in a very different method than his own. That opens the door to ideological clashes, personality conflicts, and a deeper emotional divide.
If Hal Jordan is coming into the story burdened by past missions, disillusionment, or guilt, his reluctance makes even more sense. A new partner would only complicate things further, especially one who may already be loyal to someone else.
John Stewart's First Green Lantern Teacher May Have Been Alan Scott
Alan Scott May Secretly Be John Stewart’s Earliest Mentor In The DCU Timeline
If the reports are accurate and Hal Jordan isn’t John Stewart’s original mentor in Lanterns, then someone else must have introduced John to the Corps. The Golden Age Green Lantern Alan Scott is the most logical and meaningful candidate. As the first Green Lantern in DC Comics history, placing Scott at the root of John’s journey would be a powerful way to establish generational legacy within the DCU.
Alan Scott’s role in Lanterns has already generated enormous interest. The character’s Golden Age origins, distinct magical-leaning ring, and ties to the Justice Society of America give him a unique presence that differs from the more cosmic, science-fiction-driven Green Lantern Corps mythology. Making him John’s first mentor would bridge those two eras in a compelling way.
Such a choice could also strengthen the emotional stakes of the series. If John learned the basics of being a Lantern from Alan - discipline, purpose, and the moral weight of wielding the light - then his admiration for Scott could run deep. That connection might create friction once John is reassigned to Hal, whose cynical disposition would clash sharply with Alan’s more inspirational leadership style.
Character-wise, this could be one of Lanterns’ smartest decisions. It elevates Alan Scott’s importance in the DCU, allows John Stewart’s arc to begin with a respected classical figure, and reinforces the idea that Green Lanterns represent a line of heroes stretching across generations. It also lays the groundwork for a mystery centered on what happened to Alan, why he’s no longer training John, and what this means for the wider Lantern Corps.
Lanterns Could Be About John And Hal Investigating Alan Scott's Death
The Series’ Murder Investigation May Secretly Revolve Around Alan Scott
Little is known about the official plot of Lanterns, but James Gunn confirmed early on that the show would follow Hal Jordan and John Stewart as they investigate a murder somewhere in rural America. That premise raised plenty of eyebrows.
Green Lanterns are intergalactic peacekeepers, so the death of a single human (on Earth, no less) seems far below their usual pay grade. For the murder-mystery premise to work, that death won’t be just any death. If the victim is Alan Scott, everything suddenly makes sense.
Alan Scott being the central murder victim would not only justify the Lantern Corps assigning Hal and John to the case, it would immediately elevate the investigation’s stakes. Alan Scott is no ordinary human; he’s a former Green Lantern and possibly one of Earth’s earliest superheroes in the DCU. His death could signal a threat powerful enough to endanger entire sectors.
This theory gains even more weight if Scott truly was John Stewart’s first mentor in Lanterns. The emotional impact on John would be enormous, pushing him into a personal quest for justice while forcing Hal to navigate both the investigation and his strained dynamic with his partner. Their clashing personalities (Hal’s cynicism and John’s sense of duty) would become central to the season’s tension.
From a narrative standpoint, using Alan Scott’s death as the inciting incident would allow Lanterns to honor his legacy while keeping the story grounded. It would also enable the series to slowly reveal how many metahumans, powered individuals, or early heroes existed before Superman’s rise, creating connective tissue between Superman, Lanterns, and future DCU titles.
Does The Justice Society Of America Exist In The DCU?
Clues In Superman Suggest The JSA May Already Be Part Of DCU History
The Justice Gang in Superman preparing to fight
Nothing has been officially confirmed about the Justice Society of America’s status in the DCU, but several clues point toward their existence. Alan Scott’s appearance in Lanterns is the clearest indicator. As one of the founding members, his presence alone implies that the earlier generations of DCU superheroes that operated long before modern figures like Superman include the JSA.
2025’s Superman added fuel to that theory. In the Justice Gang’s headquarters, a mural depicts Superman alongside older, classic-looking heroes who aren’t explicitly named but appear evocative of Golden Age archetypes. These figures could be artistic stand-ins for the JSA, hinting at them being part of the legacy of masked heroes in the DCU’s past.
Additionally, the Justice Gang itself feels like Maxwell Lord’s (Sean Gunn) attempt to recreate or modernize something that once existed. If metahumans have been around for decades, as Superman’s opening reveals, then an earlier team like the JSA would naturally fit into the universe’s timeline. It would also enrich the DCU’s sense of history, giving future films and shows a legacy to explore.
If James Gunn intends to build a cohesive universe where heroes didn’t simply appear overnight, the JSA’s existence would be a natural and exciting direction, one that Lanterns may be the first series to openly acknowledge.
Lanterns
Like Follow Followed Mystery Action Adventure Science Fiction Network HBO Directors James Hawes Writers Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof Franchise(s) DC UniverseCast
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Aaron Pierre
John Stewart
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Kyle Chandler
Hal Jordan
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Kelly Macdonald
Sheriff Kerry
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Garret Dillahunt
William Macon
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Lanterns
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