Lanterns is not set in a single moment in the DC Universe timeline. The series starring Hal Jordan and John Stewart tells its story through two different periods, 2016 and 2026, while the events of Superman take place in the decade separating the two timelines. It’s an important detail because it changes the way you have to play Hal Jordan, John Stewart, and especially the presence of Guy Gardner. Those who come to the series after seeing the James Gunn film might, in fact, wonder why some characters seem to find themselves in very different situations than those already known in the DCU.
When is Lanterns Set? Timeline, Superman, and the Two Eras Explained?
According to social media posts by various cast and crew members, a closing party was held last night to celebrate this milestone. The show, which will stream on HBO Max, is set in the DC Universe that has just opened in theaters since Superman’s arrival and will center on the two main figures in the Green Lantern stories. Consisting of eight episodes, Lanterns will be deeply inspired in structure by successful series such as True Detective and Fargo, while the Coen brothers’ No Country for Old Men is also cited as the main influence on cinema. The series will premiere for streaming in 2026, but there is no specific date yet.
When is Lanterns Set?
The first season of Lanterns is set in two eras: 2016 and 2026.
The initial part of the story begins in 2016, when Hal Jordan investigates a mysterious shooting in the town of Rushville, Nebraska.
Hal suspects that something extraterrestrial may be behind what happened and is joined by John Stewart, who is still a recruit in the Green Lantern Corps at the time.
The series then takes a ten-year leap, bringing part of the story to 2026.
Showrunner Chris Mundy explained to Entertainment Weekly that the two eras don’t just serve to show different moments in the story: both contain a mystery that is progressively reconstructed over the course of the episodes.
| Period | What we know | Importance in the timeline |
| 2016 | Hal Jordan and John Stewart investigate in Rushville | It is the starting point of the story |
| Between 2016 and 2026 | Other DC Universe events take place, including Superman | Connect Lanterns to the rest of the DCU |
| 2026 | The series shows the consequences of what happened ten years earlier | It’s the second timeline |
| Future of the DCU | John Stewart is set to play an increasingly important role | Lanterns prepares more DC projects |
Is Lanterns Set Before or After Superman?
The most precise answer is: both before and after.
The events of the film Superman are set within the ten years separating the two main timelines of Lanterns.
This means that the part set in 2016 takes place before Superman, while the part set in 2026 is later.
It is a particularly interesting narrative choice because it allows the series to show how the situation of the Green Lanterns has changed over time.
Anyone who wants to delve deeper into the series’ role in the shared universe can also catch up on our in-depth look at Lanterns, plot, cast, and connections to the new DC Universe.
Why Does Lanterns Use Two Timelines?
It doesn’t seem to be just a suspense gimmick.
The structure is deliberately reminiscent of some crime dramas in which past events take on a different meaning when observed years later.
In 2016, we see Hal Jordan as a veteran Lantern and John Stewart still at the beginning of his journey.
Ten years later, however, something has evidently changed.
The question therefore is not only:
“What happened in Rushville?”
But also:
- What happened to Hal Jordan over the next ten years?
- Why is John Stewart in a different position in 2026?
- What consequences did the 2016 investigation have?
- What has changed in the Green Lantern Corps?
- What role did Guy Gardner play during this period?
The time distance therefore allows the authors to also turn the relationship between Hal and John into part of the mystery.
Where Does Guy Gardner Fit In?
One of the most obvious connections to Superman comes into play here.
Nathan Fillion plays Guy Gardner, one of the Earth Green Lanterns already introduced in James Gunn’s film.
Its existence does not, however, contradict the contemporary presence of Hal Jordan and John Stewart.
Green Lantern is not, in fact, the identity of a single superhero: several humans can be part of the Green Lantern Corps at the same time.
We explained in detail why Lanterns have Hal Jordan, John Stewart, and Guy Gardner at the same time.
The double timeline makes the situation even more interesting, however.
In 2016, John is still a recruit. In the following years, the landscape of the Earth Lanterns changed, and Guy Gardner became one of the characters already active in the DCU seen by the public at the cinema.
Anyone who noticed Nathan Fillion in the film can also catch up on our previous insight into Guy Gardner and the other characters introduced in Superman.
Is John Stewart replacing Hal Jordan?
In 2016, John Stewart was introduced as the recruit entrusted to Hal Jordan.
The relationship between the two, however, contains a particular tension from the beginning: John also represents Hal’s possible successor.
This does not necessarily mean that one Lantern must disappear for another to exist.
The Green Lantern Corps can have multiple members from Earth, and the same series also includes Guy Gardner.
So the more interesting question is another: what happens between Hal and John during those ten years?
The 2026 timeline could give the response much greater importance than it initially appears.
Do You Have to See Superman Before Lanterns?
No, it’s not essential.
Lanterns tells a standalone story and introduces Hal Jordan and John Stewart directly.
Having seen Superman, however, allows you to immediately recognize Guy Gardner and better understand how the series fits into the new DC Universe.
It is therefore not a narrative prerequisite, but it can make some connections clearer.
The same goes for comic book knowledge: you don’t need to know the entire history of the Green Lantern Corps before starting the series.
Is Lanterns Part of the Same Universe as Superman?
Yes.
Lanterns belongs to the DC Universe built by James Gunn and Peter Safran, so it is not an independent series or set in an alternate universe.
Hal Jordan, John Stewart, and Guy Gardner are part of the same continuity as the other characters in the new DCU.
The difference is that Lanterns can recount events that occurred at different times in this timeline.
And this is precisely where the dual timeline becomes important: the audience is not simply observing an occasional flashback, but two moments in the same story separated by ten years.
Lanterns Timeline in Brief
To orient yourself, just remember four points:
- 2016: Hal Jordan and John Stewart’s investigation begins in Rushville;
- John Stewart is still a recruit in the Green Lantern Corps;
- Superman occurs during the period between the two timelines;
- 2026: Lanterns returns to events ten years later and opens a second mystery.
The series should then use the past to progressively explain the present, leaving the viewer to understand what really happened in the ten years between Hal Jordan and John Stewart and their 2026 versions.