The new DC Universe‘s latest release has just come up with a massive change to DC Comics lore, reframing how a key part of a major hero’s history is seen going forward in the live-action franchise. James Gunn’s DC Universe was created with the expectation of it being closer to the comics books than the controversial DCEU movie franchise spearheaded by Zack Snyder.

In some ways, that has been proven accurate. The DCU’s slate of releases has seen a major shift in tone and how characters resemble their comic book counterparts. If you take Gunn’s Superman movie, it is clear that characters like Superman, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and Lex Luthor are more comics-accurate in the DCU than in the previous DCEU movie franchise.

That said, to feel fresh and surprising, Gunn’s DCU can’t simply copy all aspects of the comics. To that end, changes have been made to create unique character connections, boost obscure comic book players, and so on in the DCU. After a dark period when it came to Green Lantern’s live-action appearances, the important DC hero is finally getting his due in live-action.

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Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for HBO’s Lanterns season 1, episode 8.Nathan Fillion debuted as Guy Gardner in 2025’s Superman after having spent several years voicing Hal Jordan in animated DC movies. More recently, he returned as part of the cast of HBO’s Lanterns series, which introduced the DCU version of Hal, played by Kyle Chandler, and Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart. In the Lanterns season 1 finale, a key piece of DC lore was changed.

Lanterns Just Changed The Iconic Green Lantern Oath From DC Comics

There are quite a few elements that have become synonymous with Green Lantern for DC fans. One of the most beloved is the Green Lantern Corps’ oath. The most famous iteration of that oath was created for Green Lantern #9, which had a cover date of October 1943, and was originally recited by Adam Scott. The classic Green Lantern oath was penned by Alfred Bester, being the one with “In brightest day, in blackest night…” and so on. When Hal Jordan was finally introduced to DC Comics in 1959, DC would make the oath a must for all Green Lantern Corps members.

HBO’s Lanterns season 1 finale made a major change to that iconic oath. Instead of reciting the classic version of the oath from DC Comics, which John had heard Hal do earlier in the superhero series, John Stewart decided to come up with his own version of the words at the very end of the episode. John’s reasoning was that the Green Lantern oath was not “him,” with the character instead choosing to come up with an updated version that made more sense for his trajectory to becoming a Green Lantern with an unsanctioned power battery and Hal Jordan’s ring.

Why Lanterns’ Major DC Lore Change Makes Sense For James Gunn’s DCU

While it was one of the divisive aspects of the Lanterns season 1 finale, I have to agree that John Stewart’s new oath makes sense for Pierre’s version of the character. After all, not only John, but his parents lived by the notion of not letting fear into their hearts and this letting that defined them and how they treated their son. At the end of the season, John understands the role that fear can have in separating him from the more bureaucratic Green Lantern Corps. Check out the full oath below:

“In brightest day,

In darkest night,

I’ll embrace my fear…

I’ll do what’s right.

I choose this ring,

I choose this fight…

In service to this lantern’s light.”

He turns that into a strength that allows him to break the rules and be his own person. While it is true that John Stewart’s new Green Lantern oath does not really have close to the same iconic ring to it that the classic one does, it is a fitting starting point for the character in the DCU. Additionally, future seasons of Lanterns could change the Corps to a point where John eventually feels comfortable using the iconic oath again, which would be an event to behold, so we shall wait and see what happens.

Release Date

August 16, 2026

Network

HBO

Showrunner

Chris Mundy

Directors

Alik Sakharov, James Hawes, Stephen Williams, Geeta Patel

Writers

Damon Lindelof, Chris Mundy, Tom King, Vanessa Baden Kelly, Justin Britt-Gibson, Breannah Gibson

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  Aaron Pierre

  John Stewart