The upcoming Lanterns series on HBO will bring a major DC character to life after years of waiting. This character is John Stewart, a popular Green Lantern. Director Zack Snyder originally wanted Stewart to appear at the end of his 2021 film, Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Warner Bros. studio asked Snyder not to use the character at that time. Now, the new Lanterns show plans to feature John Stewart as a lead character, fulfilling that earlier idea.
The series is part of a fresh start for DC stories under filmmaker James Gunn. It promises to give John Stewart a proper introduction. Instead of a short movie scene, he will be the center of a whole series. Actor Aaron Pierre has been cast to play John Stewart.
Zack Snyder’s Original Plan for John Stewart
Zack Snyder had a specific plan for his version of Justice League. He wanted to include a teaser scene introducing John Stewart as a Green Lantern. This scene was meant to be a surprise for viewers at the end of the movie. It would have set up future stories involving the Green Lantern Corps within the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).
However, Warner Bros. had other plans for the John Stewart character. The studio told Snyder they wanted to save the character for a later project. Because of this, Snyder had to change his movie. He replaced the Green Lantern cameo with a scene featuring Martian Manhunter, another DC hero. The change was a disappointment for many fans who wanted to see John Stewart in live-action.
“Warner Bros. however, requested him to leave Stewart’s character to be disclosed sometime in the future, and thus Snyder substituted Stewart with Martian Manhunter.”
Concept art for Snyder’s version of John Stewart was later shared online. It showed the character in a sleek, all-black costume with glowing green energy. Actor Wayne T. Carr was even cast to play the role for that scene, but his part was cut from the final film.
The New Lanterns Series on HBO
Lanterns is an upcoming HBO series that is a key part of the new DC Universe under James Gunn and Peter Safran. The show was officially announced in early 2023. It will focus on two famous Green Lanterns: Hal Jordan and John Stewart.
The story is described as a terrestrial mystery that grows into a larger cosmic threat. It will follow Stewart and Jordan as they investigate a mystery on Earth. James Gunn has stated that the series is “basically John Stewart’s story,” confirming the character’s central role. The show is planned to be similar to a big-budget TV detective story, but set within the DC universe.
Casting for the series is underway. British actor Aaron Pierre, known for his work in The Underground Railroad and Old, will play John Stewart. The role of Hal Jordan has not been officially cast at this time. The series is currently in development and is expected to be released in 2026.
Who is John Stewart?
John Stewart is a very important character in DC Comics. He first appeared in Green Lantern #87 in 1971. He was created by writer Dennis O’Neil and artist Neal Adams. Stewart was one of the first major African-American superheroes in comics. Artist Neal Adams has said the character’s design was inspired by actor Sidney Poitier.
In the comics, John Stewart is a former U.S. Marine from Detroit, Michigan. He later works as an architect. He is chosen by the Guardians of the Universe to be a Green Lantern, an interstellar peacekeeper. He is given a power ring, one of the universe’s most powerful weapons. The ring can create anything its wearer can imagine using green hard-light energy.
Stewart’s popularity soared with the Justice League and Justice League Unlimited animated series in the early 2000s. He was a main character on those shows, voiced by Phil LaMarr. This introduced him to a wider audience and made him a fan-favorite Green Lantern for many.
A Clean Start for the DC Universe
The Lanterns series is part of a complete reboot of live-action DC stories. James Gunn and Peter Safran are leading this new direction, called the DC Universe (DCU). This is a separate continuity from the earlier DC Extended Universe (DCEU), which included Snyder’s films.
This separation was made clear in 2024. The premiere of Peacemaker Season 2 on HBO Max included a revised recap of Season 1. In the new version, scenes that originally showed the Snyder-era Justice League were changed. They now show a new team called the “Justice Gang,” which includes characters from Gunn’s new DCU.
This edit confirms that the old DCEU stories are no longer the main continuity. The new Lanterns series will exist in this fresh DC Universe. It will not be a direct continuation of Snyder’s plans, but it will finally bring his core idea—a live-action John Stewart—to the screen in a major way.
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What Fans Are Saying
The news that Lanterns will focus on John Stewart has been met with positive reactions from many fans online. For years, fans expressed disappointment that Snyder’s cameo was cut. Seeing the concept art for the black-suited Green Lantern only increased the desire to see the character.
Many fans see the HBO series as the proper way to introduce the character. Instead of a brief cameo, John Stewart will get a full story to develop. Comments on social media suggest fans are excited that the character is being treated as a lead. They are also eager to see the dynamic between John Stewart and Hal Jordan, which is a classic partnership in the comics.
Casting Aaron Pierre has also generated interest. Fans are looking forward to his performance as the disciplined, architect-minded Marine.
The series is in development, with more casting news and story details expected in the coming months. Lanterns is scheduled to begin filming in 2025 for its expected 2026 release on HBO.
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