Lanterns could be kept in the dark for longer than I expected as new rumor suggests HBO Max sci-fi show won't air in early 2026

• Lanterns might not make its HBO Max debut in early 2026
• James Gunn has claimed it would be the first DCU project to launch next year
• A new rumor suggests it'll arrive after Supergirl, which flies into theaters next June

Brace yourself for some potentially bad news, DC fans, because Lanterns might not make its HBO Max debut in early 2026.

According to a new rumor, the DC Universe's (DCU) forthcoming Green Lantern TV show is set to arrive after Supergirl flies into theaters. With the latter set to be released globally on June 26, 2026, it's possible that Lanterns won't *ahem* see the light of day until July 2026 at the very earliest.

To explain why this might be the case, we have to travel back to early October. In one of its most recent Heat Vision newsletters, The Hollywood Reporter (THR) implied that the film formerly known as Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow will be the next DCU project to make its bow.

That wouldn't be a problem if DC Studios co-chiefs James Gunn and Peter Safran hadn't already indicated that Lanterns would premiere early next year. Indeed, speaking to the press in February (as reported by Variety), the pair said they expected it would drop sometime in the first three months of 2026.

Understandably, THR's report raised eyebrows among Green Lantern fans. Had the trade publication simply forgotten about Lanterns, or was something more sinister afoot?

Step forward the Green Lantern Podcast (GLP), a YouTube fan channel that decided to investigate. Seeking clarity on what THR had heard, GLP exchanged emails with the outlet and, in their October 28, 2025, episode, GLP revealed what said email correspondences, well, said. In short: THR confirmed it had heard that Lanterns would launch after Supergirl.

It appears, then, that it'll be a long wait for the next DCU Chapter One project to debut. Indeed, with Peacemaker season 2 ending in mid-October and no other DC Studios films or TV shows set to roll off the production line before Supergirl, it'll be another eight months before Warner Bros' comic book universe has something new to offer us.

For what it's worth, I've reached out to HBO Max for clarification on Lanterns' release window. At the time of publication, I haven't received a response, but I'll update this article if one is sent my way.

In the meantime, we've slowly learned more about the DCU's Green Lantern TV series. Recently, one of its showrunners opened up on the "push and pull" that'll exist between its two leads. The individuals in question? Iconic Green Lanterns Hal Jordan and John Stewart, who'll be played by Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre respectively.

For more on the forthcoming sci-fi mystery series, check out my definitive guide on Lanterns. Once you're done, catch up on everything we know about Supergirl.

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