First Look at HBO Max’s Scrapped ‘Green Lantern’ Series Shows the DC Show Fans Never Got
DC’s Green Lantern Corps has finally found success on television. ‘Lanterns’ recently wrapped its first season on HBO and became one of the network’s most successful new shows, finally giving the space cops a hit after years of false starts.
That road was long and messy. Before James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios, HBO Max had been developing a very different ‘Green Lantern’ series, an ambitious space epic that was eventually scrapped.
Now fans are getting their first real look at what might have been. Writer Marc Guggenheim has shared official concept art from the cancelled series in his newsletter, along with new details about its story and characters.
According to Guggenheim, the show would have taken place in 2 time periods. The first was set in 1941 and followed Alan Scott, played by Jeremy Irvine, as a closeted FBI agent being blackmailed by J. Edgar Hoover.
First concept art from the cancelled ‘GREEN LANTERN’ series. • Would have took place in 2 time periods – Alan Scott in 1941 and Guy Gardner in 1984 • Jessica Cruz, Simon Baz, Kilowog & Sinestro would’ve been in the series + a new Lantern character Bree Jarta • The Manhunters were planned to be the primary villains • Seth Grahame-Smith was set to serve as showrunner with Marc Guggenheim in the writers room (Source: https://t.co/z80f0pGcdc)
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 7, 2026
The second was set in 1984 and centered on Guy Gardner, played by Finn Wittrock. Guggenheim described this version of Gardner as a Rambo-esque embodiment of 1980s hyper-patriotism and hyper-masculinity.
Like ‘Lanterns’, the series would also have used the Manhunters as its primary villains. Its original working title was reportedly ‘Emerald Knights’. The first image shows several Green Lanterns together, including Wittrock’s Gardner and other members of the Corps.
The lineup was set to include Jessica Cruz, Simon Baz, Kilowog and Sinestro. A second image offers a closer look at Gardner’s suit. Guggenheim credited the concept art to Gina DeDomenico, based on a design by Laura Jean Shannon, and said the team planned to adjust it to reflect Gardner’s Justice League International look.
The third piece introduces Bree Jarta, a new half-alien Lantern from Sector 2814 who was going to partner with Gardner in 1984. Guggenheim stressed that she was not Jo Mullein, and no actor was ever cast in the role.
Guggenheim, known for co-creating ‘Arrow’ and ‘Legends of Tomorrow’, joined the project in October 2020 to write alongside Seth Grahame-Smith, who was set to serve as showrunner. Greg Berlanti was also attached.
No evil shall escape their sight. Watch the official trailer now. #Lanterns arrives August 16 on @hbomax. https://t.co/PQdkto9G2R
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) July 24, 2026
The team developed the series starting in 2019 and completed 8 scripts. It was expected to be the most expensive show of Berlanti’s career. The project ran into trouble after the Warner Bros. Discovery merger.
The series had been ordered under former DC Films president Walter Hamada, and after his exit, the studio decided to redevelop it with a much smaller budget. Grahame-Smith’s completed scripts were scrapped, and he left the project. Wittrock and Irvine were no longer attached, and the series was reworked to focus on John Stewart instead.
Within weeks of Gunn and Safran taking over DC Studios, Guggenheim and Grahame-Smith had both moved on. The new plans eventually became ‘Lanterns’. The reveal has sparked plenty of discussion online. Many fans were impressed by the art and said the scrapped series looked like it had real promise.
Others noted the similarities to ‘Lanterns’, which also uses dual time periods and the Manhunters. For many viewers, the success of the new show softens the blow of losing ‘Emerald Knights’.
The concept art is a reminder of how much DC’s plans have changed in recent years. A big-budget space opera with multiple Lanterns across decades was replaced by a more grounded story focused on Hal Jordan and John Stewart.
With ‘Lanterns’ already in early development for Season 2, fans may still see some of these characters in the new DCU. For now, Guggenheim’s art offers a look at one of DC’s most intriguing projects that never was.
Would you have watched HBO Max’s scrapped ‘Green Lantern’ series?
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