Did HBO’s Green Lantern Show Just Kill Guy Gardner?

Hal Jordan and John Stewart are taking center stage in the DC Universe through HBO’s new series Lanterns. Played by Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre, the show will mark the introduction of two of DC’s biggest characters in James Gunn’s shared universe. And now DC Studios and HBO have finally provided audiences with a glimpse at their upcoming story through the first Lanterns trailer.

Taking heavy inspiration from HBO’s hit series True Detective, the footage outlines the somewhat strained relationship between Hal and John, as the former trains the latter as a member of the Green Lantern Corps. Lanterns follows them as they investigate a murder in a small town and appears to take a very grounded approach to the intergalactic characters.

There’s a lack of green constructs and use of the power ring that really sets Hal and John apart from the traditional look and feel of a Green Lantern, including Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner in Superman. And the latter is why a moment at the very end of the trailer has created some confusion.

Hal Jordan Says He’s The Only Human Green Lantern In The Lanterns Trailer

The teaser ends with John and Hal having a conversation in a car. John asks Hal if he ever talks to other members of the GLC. And while his mentor’s full response expands the list of confirmed Green Lanterns in the DCU, it also includes an eyebrow-raising remark. Hal claims that he doesn’t talk to the rest of the Green Lanterns because they are aliens, saying, “I’m the only human.”

This is telling for a lot of reasons, including the fact that many other humans have served as Green Lanterns in the comics over time. This remark dashes any hopes that the original Green Lantern, Alan Scott, is an active member of the Corps during the show. It also means that none of Kyle Rayner, Simon Baz, Jessica Cruz, or Sojourner Mullein are already members, too.

But this line also just doesn’t make sense within the established canon of the DCU because of Guy Gardner. Fillion has already played the character in Superman and Peacemaker season 2, and he’s confirmed to return for Lanterns as well. Guy is a human born and raised on Earth in all iterations of his origin in the comics, and there’s been no reason to think he’s anything other than human in the DCU.

Taking Hal’s comment at face value, there are dire implications for Guy.

Hal’s Line Could Mean That Guy Gardner Is Dead

The most logical explanation may be that Guy is dead during Lanterns‘ story. The trailer confirms that Hal has been serving with the GLC for a long time. It would be strange, then, for him to have no idea who Guy is, especially since they protect the same sector and both come from Earth. Whether Guy was recruited to the Corps before or after Hal, certainly, he would be informed by the Guardians of the Universe.

This line could reshape what we know of Lanterns‘ story, then. It’s been confirmed that Hal and John are investigating a murder, but who died hasn’t been revealed. While there have been theories that it could be Alan Scott, perhaps it is really Guy. This would allow Hal’s line to be factual, as he’d be the only other living human Lantern.

On one hand, it feels unlikely that Gunn would kill the character this early on, considering he’s played by a close friend. Guy has been established as a key hero on Earth through his place in the Justice Gang. It previously didn’t seem likely that his time in the DCU would end so quickly.

However, Guy’s death could be what was best for Lanterns‘ story. There would be some emotional response from audiences upon learning of his demise since viewers are at least familiar with him by now. And with Guy out of the picture, it would open the door for Hal and John to take on bigger roles as heroes of Earth, where either could become the definitive Green Lantern for humanity.

How Guy Being Alive Could Still Work With Hal’s “Only Human” Line

While Guy’s death was admittedly my first thought after hearing Hal’s line, there are other possible explanations Lanterns or future DC Universe projects could use.

One option is that Hal simply does not know about Guy. His portrayal in Lanterns suggests some distance between him and the Corps, including a possible disdain for his alien comrades. Hal may be a bit more checked out and not be fully aware of every Green Lantern. He might not even have cared enough or been focused enough to realize another member was on Earth.

Lanterns could also explain that Hal has been off-world for a long time, leaving him with no opportunity to even know that Guy is on Earth. Whether that means he was never informed of a fellow Lantern heading to his home planet or that he completely forgot about him, Hal’s potentially strained relationship with the Corps could provide several explanations for him overlooking Guy’s status as an active member.

Another possibility is that Guy isn’t fully human in the DCU. We haven’t gotten much of his backstory through Superman and Peacemaker, so an alien connection could be utilized. This would not be a completely foreign concept to include. In the comics, Guy is part Vuldarian, a race of shape-shifting aliens, through his bloodline. Perhaps his Vuldarian powers are or once were activated in the DCU, making Hal view him as an alien rather than human.

And since we’re running through various options, we must at least mention the possibility that Lanterns could take place prior to other DCU projects. There are no definitive references in the trailer that say the story absolutely takes place post-Superman​​​​​​. If this narrative actually occurs years before then, there is a chance that Guy has not yet become a Green Lantern.

With no certainty one way or the other, we’ll probably have to wait for Lanterns to come out to gain a better understanding of Hal’s claim to be the “only human” among the Green Lanterns. But for now, it’s difficult to hear the line and not think that Guy Gardner’s time in the DCU could be coming to an end.