A new Green Lantern TV show trailer has been released by HBO, and the footage from Lanterns features more teases that a major hero is likely to die sooner than later in the DC Universe. Death plays a major role in superhero stories, be it in the comics, animation, live-action, or other mediums. Most of DC’s best movies have had to deal with major losses.
Rick Flag, Superman, Supergirl, and Michael Keaton’s Batman are just some of the names that died in the old DCEU movie timeline. James Gunn’s DC Universe has also already started to kill characters, with players like Nina Mazursky and Princess Ilana Rostovic dying. In recent live-action DC TV shows, The Penguin killed several characters. Now, HBO’s Lanterns might be doing the same.
HBO’s Green Lantern Series Trailer Teases A Major Death
Ever since Kyle Chandler, who is 60, was cast as Hal Jordan, DC fans have been speculating that he was going to die early in the DC Universe’s run. Well, that theory could come true in the Green Lantern Corps veteran’s first appearance, as HBO’s new Lanterns trailer could be foreshadowing Hal’s death. Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart would serve as his replacement.
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In the Lanterns trailer, Hal tells John that he will continue to be a Green Lantern until the day he dies, saying, “As long as I’m alive, that ain’t changing.” This clearly takes out one of the possible paths for John to take over as the DCU’s main Green Lantern while Hal is alive, as the veteran hero shows no signs of being open to retiring from his role.
After that, John says, “You’re old. You’re tired. And your time is up.” Everyone knew the HBO series was going to pave the way for John Stewart to become the DCU’s main Green Lantern, but based on what both he and Hal Jordan say in the trailer, it very much seems like the older hero is about to bite the bullet. The foreshadowing is heavy.
Why Hal Jordan Dying In The DCU Would Make Sense
I hope DC does not kill Hal Jordan so soon, as the character can finally get his due in live-action after Ryan Reynolds’ ill-received Green Lantern movie halted any stories for the hero on the big screen for a long time. That said, Hal dying would make sense if the goal was to truly tout John Stewart as the DCU Green Lantern.
Hal’s death would help that move in three ways. First, it would give the character a plausible reason not to be around, as Lanterns’ trailer confirmed what fans already knew, which is that Hal would not easily step aside for someone to take over. Secondly, if Hal died after bonding with John and training him, that emotional baggage would make Aaron Pierre’s journey as the hero more complex.
Finally, Hal Jordan is the most popular Green Lantern at DC. As such, if he were to retire, leaving the door open for Kyle Chandler to return anytime, fans would never stop asking for the DCU to bring back the hero and put him in a lead role. By killing Hal, John is free to rise to the top in Lanterns and the DCU as a whole.
Network
HBO
Showrunner
Chris Mundy
Directors
James Hawes
Aaron Pierre
John Stewart
Kelly Macdonald
Sheriff Kerry