The fact that ‘Lanterns’ finally released its first trailer should have been a clear indication of momentum in the newly rebooted DC Universe by James Gunn. Rather, it rekindled a debate that many fans believed was left behind with Zack Snyder’s era: why does DC keep drifting back toward darkness?
That response may seem melodramatic, but just look at the trailer, and one can readily understand the source. And after its removal, it’s even more evident that the new DCU is confused.
‘Lanterns’ Faces Backlash For A Tone Fans Thought Was Gone
The concept of ‘Lanterns’ is interesting on paper. It is a crime-driven, grounded story about Hal Jordan and John Stewart, who are played by Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre, and there is potential. The combination of cosmic heroes and a detective-type story might be something new.
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The problem is, though, that Green Lantern has never been a grounded idea. It is huge, bizarre, colorful, and unashamedly cosmic. Otherworldly planets, fantasy creations, and epic proportions are in its DNA.
Reducing that to a kind of ‘True Detective’ vibe could make a good TV show. However, it could also lose what makes the property special in the first place.
The trailer was inclined to the dull colors, slow-burning tension, and the mystery of the earth. There is nothing wrong with that.
However, to those fans who were looking forward to the spectacular energy structures and interstellar magnitude, it is like ordering a feast and being served a very serious and silent meal in its place.
Why ‘Lanterns’ Has Fans Worried About DC’s New Direction
It is not only ‘Lanterns’ that is the bigger issue, but what it symbolizes. Following the release of ‘Man of Steel’ and ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’, DC was accused of excessively indulging in dark and desaturated storytelling.
The entire idea of Gunn re-booting and beginning with ‘Superman’ was to re-establish that tone and to restore color, optimism, and fun.
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So, if ‘Lanterns’ seem to revert to gritty realism, it seems like mixed messaging. Is it a colorful, optimistic universe we are receiving, or just another dark era? In all fairness, variety is not a bad thing.
Not all DC projects have to feel like each other. Actually, some of the most recent hits in DC succeeded exactly because they owned an identifiable character, like ‘The Batman’.
However, there is a distinction between tonal variety and tonal confusion. At this point, ‘Lanterns’ is in a liminal state.
It may be an ingenious reinvention that broadens the appearance of DC storytelling. Or it might be a second instance of DC overreacting and forgetting what fans really want to see. And that is the tension of the matter. It is not merely about a single trailer but whether DC has learned its lesson.
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