Some decisions in a cinematic universe feel like accidents. Others—like choosing Guy Gardner as the first Green Lantern of the new DCU—feel like controlled chaos. It's the kind of chaos James Gunn thrives on. And in a world where Superman (released July 11, 2025) had to reintroduce hope while Peacemaker season 2 (premiered August 15, 2025 on Max) doubled down on filth and cynicism, Gardner's entry point makes… well, a crooked kind of sense.
When Nathan Fillion strutted into Superman as the bowl-cut Lantern with a power ring and a smirk sharp enough to slice through Kryptonian steel, audiences groaned, laughed, maybe even rolled their eyes. Where was Hal Jordan? Where was John Stewart? Why start with the guy fans often call the jerk of the Corps?
That question got its real answer two months later, when Peacemaker season 2 kicked off with Gardner mocking Christopher Smith during a surreal “job interview” alongside Hawkgirl and Maxwell Lord. The scene wasn't subtle. It told us Gardner isn't here to be adored. He's here to be abrasive, to test the seams of Gunn's fledgling universe, and—ironically—to hold it together by clashing with everyone else.
Superman for the Families, Peacemaker for the Misfits
The tonal gap between Superman and Peacemaker season 2 is a canyon. One is marketed with wide-eyed idealism for parents and kids; the other practically marinates in its TV-MA warning label. And yet, Gardner thrives in both. In Superman, he's the guy who flips off a tank by manifesting a glowing emerald middle finger. In Peacemaker, he's the guy who torpedoes a serious recruitment process by clowning on applicants until they storm out.
Most Lanterns couldn't thread that needle. Hal Jordan might be too noble. John Stewart too stoic. Gardner's the only Lantern who's half-buffoon, half-badass—and that duality makes him the perfect connective tissue between the PG-13 and R-rated wings of the DCU.
Setting Up the Lanterns to Come
Of course, this isn't permanent. Lanterns, the HBO Max series scheduled for 2026, will introduce Hal Jordan and John Stewart properly. And here's where the choice looks downright strategic. By making Guy the first ring-slinger audiences meet, Gunn ensures that Hal and John don't arrive as just “more Green Lanterns.” They arrive as the antidote to Gardner's chaos—heroes defined partly by how they're not him.
It's a clever inversion. Fans who once complained about Guy being “the wrong choice” may find themselves relieved, even grateful, when the archetypal Lanterns step onto the screen. Gardner's eccentricity primes the stage for their gravitas.
The Unapologetic Tone
What's most striking, though, is how unapologetic these portrayals are. Superman could've softened Guy for a general audience. It didn't. Gunn and co-writer Peter Safran leaned into his crudeness, his cocky swagger, his willingness to rub Superman himself the wrong way. And then Peacemaker doubled down, letting him be the loudest jackass in the room—while still reminding us he's a legitimate hero when it counts.
That refusal to sand down the edges may be what saves the DCU from homogeny. Instead of every hero fitting the same mold, Gardner insists on being different, even unpleasant. And somehow, that makes the whole thing feel more alive.
What This Means for the DCU's Future
Whether the general public knows it or not, the DCU just gambled big by making its first Green Lantern an abrasive cult-favorite rather than a household name. The reward? Contrast. Energy. A promise that future installments won't all taste the same.
When Lanterns arrives in 2026 alongside Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (July 2026), Guy Gardner will already be established—loud, brash, and divisive. Which means Hal and John can soar higher, burn brighter, and maybe even remind us why Green Lantern mythology deserves a second chance in live-action after 2011's stumble.
Love him or loathe him, Guy Gardner just gave the DCU exactly what it needed: friction. And friction is how sparks fly.
What You Should Know About Guy Gardner in the DCU
He bridges tones. Gardner's the rare hero who can fit in both Superman and Peacemaker without losing character.
He sets up the contrast. By meeting him first, audiences will better appreciate Hal Jordan and John Stewart in Lanterns (2026).
He isn't softened. The DCU leaned into his crudeness, instead of sanding down his edges for mass appeal.
He adds authenticity. Not every hero should be likable; Gardner makes the universe feel messier—and realer.
He proves strategy matters. Gunn's choice wasn't random. It was about building a universe with range, not just icons.
 and Peacemaker season 2 explains why the DCU chose him as its first Green Lantern—and why it might be the smartest move James Gunn’s universe has made yet.){kind=link}