“Lanterns” is set to give John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) the major live-action spotlight DC fans have long been waiting for. But the upcoming DC Universe series will not introduce him as a fully formed cosmic powerhouse. Instead, early promotional footage, including the “Lanterns” Comic-Con trailer, positions John as the newer recruit learning under Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler), a veteran Green Lantern who appears less than thrilled about mentoring him. For a deeper look at John Stewart’s comic book legacy and how his journey could unfold in “Lanterns” and future DCU projects, watch Looper’s video above.
Pairing John with Hal is a smart and compelling choice. Hal Jordan remains the most recognizable Green Lantern in DC Comics history, but John Stewart brings a different kind of weight to the mythology. He was not the first hero to wear the ring, yet he became one of the franchise’s most significant figures, breaking ground as one of DC’s most prominent Black superheroes. Beyond that historic importance, John’s discipline, focus, and intensity have always set him apart from many of the Lanterns who came before him.
John Stewart will usher in a more serious era for Green Lanterns
John Johnson/HBO Max
The Green Lantern corner of DC has had an uneven track record on screen. The 2011 “Green Lantern” film, starring Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan, remains one of the more infamous misfires in modern superhero cinema. More recently, the DCU found stronger footing with Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner, who debuted in “Superman.” Still, while Guy offers a lively glimpse at what a Green Lantern power ring can do, his personality leans heavily into comedy.
That makes “Lanterns” an important opportunity for the DCU to explore the Corps from a more grounded and serious angle. In the comics, the Green Lantern Corps is not just a collection of colorful space cops with flashy constructs. Its history is marked by war, sacrifice, political conflict, and universe-threatening danger. For casual viewers, that darker scope can be easy to overlook amid the strange alien designs and sweeping space-opera spectacle that often define Green Lantern stories.
With HBO’s “Lanterns,” Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King appear focused on presenting the Green Lantern mythos with more gravity than audiences may expect. If that is the goal, John Stewart is an ideal character to lead the charge. As Looper’s video above explains, his background, temperament, and moral complexity make him one of the best possible entry points for a more mature take on the Green Lantern Corps.
