James Gunn, the co-CEO of DC Studios, has officially addressed rumors about images claiming to show characters from the upcoming Lanterns series, clarifying their origins in a recent social media post. This comes as anticipation builds for the series, with the James Gunn Lanterns show debunk drawing attention to misinformation spreading about the show online.
Gunn Addresses Circulating Images
Recently, images said to depict Aaron Pierre as John Stewart and Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan began to circulate online, featuring the characters using their iconic Green Lantern rings. James Gunn responded promptly, announcing that the pictures are not genuine, but instead artificially generated. He posted on Threads, “Nope, that’s AI,” halting further speculation about their validity.
Details About the Upcoming Lanterns Series
To date, only one official first look image for Lanterns has been shared publicly, showing John Stewart and Hal Jordan walking side by side down an empty road. While a trailer has been secretly screened to select audiences, it included scenes of Hal Jordan in flight, lively exchanges between Hal and John, and a brief mention of a unique member of the Green Lantern Corps, Ch’p, providing fans a small glimpse at what’s to come.
James Gunn also commented on questions about the release of a Lanterns teaser, stating he is currently uncertain about when it will be made public, as he’s less involved in scheduling for television projects compared to film.
Direction and Themes Highlighted by Showrunner
The creative direction of the Lanterns show has been described by showrunner Chris Mundy as blending superhero action with elements of a buddy cop series, putting focus on the dynamic between Hal Jordan and John Stewart. As Mundy shared,
“as much of a buddy cop show as a superhero show.”
– Chris Mundy, Showrunner
Mundy further elaborated on the thematic elements, emphasizing,
“Our show is in a lot of ways about replacement – when should someone step aside and when is it time for the next person to take the reins?”
– Chris Mundy, Showrunner. He continued,
“That push and pull between those two characters is really important. So much of the power that John has is by not taking the bait, understanding that you lose your power if you’re yelling and screaming.”
– Chris Mundy, Showrunner
Release Date and What Comes Next
The Lanterns series has been slated for a summer 2026 release, with the exact premiere date still pending announcement. The upcoming lineup for DC includes the debut of Supergirl on June 26, 2026, providing fans with more content to anticipate as Lanterns inches closer to its arrival. Until then, viewers continue to watch for updates, while misinformation about the series, as highlighted by the recent James Gunn Lanterns show debunk, continues to be quickly addressed by DC leadership.
