2026 is shaping up to be a big year for superhero fans, whether you love Marvel or DC. There will be plenty of action and excitement all year long. But for DCU fans, the fun starts a little later than expected. The first DCU project of 2026, Lanterns, has been delayed. Here’s what we know about the new release.
Lanterns was originally expected to debut in early 2026. However, Casey Bloys, the Chairman and CEO of HBO and HBO Max Content, recently confirmed that the show will now premiere by the end of Summer 2026. This means the first DCU release of the year will actually be Supergirl, which is set for June 26, 2026.
We don’t have an exact date for Lanterns yet. HBO says it will be a late Summer 2026 release, so it’s possible it could come out around the same time as Clayface, but nothing is confirmed. Production for Lanterns started in February 2025, with James Gunn, Peter Safran, James Hawes, and Ron Schmidt serving as executive producers. The series will have 8 episodes in total.
The show will follow a detective-style story with two Green Lanterns, Hal Jordan and John Stewart, played by Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre. Fans will also see the return of Guy Gardner, played by Nathan Fillion, who was a hit in Superman (2025). We’ll keep you updated if an exact release date for Lanterns is announced.
