UPDATE: Hal Jordan’s death is confirmed in the first episode of Lanterns, now out on HBO Max.
The new Lanterns footage may have dropped a big clue about Hal Jordan’s future in the DCU.
After going through the footage, one thing stands out: it doesn’t look like the show is taking place entirely in the present day. The cars, the rural setting, and the overall look of the footage all point to at least part of Lanterns being set in the past.
That could explain one of the biggest questions surrounding the series: why does Hal Jordan appear to say he is the only human Green Lantern when Guy Gardner is already part of James Gunn’s Superman?
Lanterns Footage Looks Set In The Past
The footage gives off a much older, grounded vibe than expected. Instead of a big cosmic Green Lantern spectacle, Lanterns appears to be leaning into a small-town mystery with a rural setting and very little superhero flash.
The cars are one of the bigger clues. They don’t look modern, and the footage has a stripped-down, older feel to it. It doesn’t exactly scream present-day DCU.
Hal Jordan and John Stewart also appear to be investigating a mystery together, with the series taking more of a True Detective-style approach than a space opera. That could mean the show is jumping around in time or telling John Stewart’s origin through a case from the past.
Hal Jordan Says He’s The Only Human Green Lantern
The biggest clue comes from Hal Jordan himself.
In the footage, Hal appears to say he is the only human Green Lantern. On its own, that line doesn’t seem like a big deal. But in the larger DCU, it raises questions.
Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner appears in Superman, which means another human Green Lantern is already active in James Gunn’s DCU. If Lanterns takes place at the same time as Superman, Hal’s line doesn’t make much sense.
But if Lanterns is set in the past, the line fits.
Hal could be the only human Green Lantern at that point in the timeline. Guy Gardner may not have received his ring yet, or he may not be active publicly. John Stewart may also still be in training.
John Stewart Appears To Be Training Under Hal
The footage also makes it look like John Stewart is not fully established as a Green Lantern yet.
John says he trained his entire life for this, but Hal appears to be the veteran Lantern guiding him through the case. The footage also shows Hal and John sharing one ring, with John seemingly not having worn the ring for two months of training.
That points to Lanterns possibly being John Stewart’s origin story.
Instead of opening with John as a fully formed Green Lantern, the show may follow him as he learns what it means to carry the ring, with Hal serving as his mentor.
Is Hal Jordan Already Dead In The Present-Day DCU?
If Lanterns takes place partly in the past, it opens the door to a bigger theory: Hal Jordan may already be dead, missing, or gone by the time the present-day DCU catches up.
That would explain why the series is centered on Hal mentoring John while Superman introduces Guy Gardner separately. Hal’s story could be leading to his exit, while John Stewart becomes the main Green Lantern moving forward.
The footage includes a dramatic moment where Hal puts the Power Ring on the dashboard and jumps from a car going off a cliff. It’s hard to know what is happening without full context, but it certainly doesn’t look like business as usual.
If Lanterns is telling Hal’s final mission, the show could be setting up John Stewart to take his place.
Chris Mundy’s Timeline Comments Support The Theory
The theory also lines up with what showrunner Chris Mundy has said about Lanterns.
Mundy has confirmed the series spans different time periods, which supports the idea that the HBO show is not locked into one simple present-day timeline.
That could mean Lanterns starts in the past, moves into the present, or uses flashbacks to explain what happened between Hal Jordan and John Stewart.
Either way, the footage now makes more sense if the show is playing with time.
