DCU's Lanterns Trailer Reveals New Tradition For TV Slate

The DCU's Lanterns released its first trailer, and it confirms there is a new tradition for the universe's television slate. Peter Safran and James Gunn's DCU is still in its early stages. It has two TV shows, Creature Commandos and Peacemaker, and one film with Superman.

In addition to the powerful Kryptonian, Superman introduced a handful of other DC heroes, including Mr. Terrific, Hawkgirl, Metamorphosis, and Guy Gardner. Gardner is the first Green Lantern in the DCU, and two more will be joining the universe in 2026's Lanterns.

The new series focuses on Hal Jordan and John Stewart investigating a mystery in a small American town. The first trailer was recently released, and reveals that the series has a similar trait to the DCU's other shows.

Lanterns Is The Latest DCU Series That's Made For A Mature Audience

Lanterns stars Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart. The first trailer teases the True Detective vibe of the series, as the two Green Lanterns find themselves entwined in the dealings of a small town. While Jordan is the veteran of the two, Stewart finds himself butting heads with the older hero over his methods.

Given the trailer's gritty and darker tone, the series is seemingly made for a more mature audience, which is further proven by the cursing. Jordan drops two f-bombs in the trailer, along with a sheriff, played by Kelly Macdonald. Lanterns is another mature series in the DCU, establishing a tradition for the universe's TV shows.

Both Creature Commandos and Peacemaker are meant for adult audiences. They feature bloody violence, swearing, and sexual content. With Lanterns following this pattern, it shows that the DCU is keeping its shows for mature audiences, unless a future series changes this tradition.

The DCU's Films Are More Family-Friendly, Though It Is Experimenting With R-Rated Content

While the DCU's television shows are more mature, its film slate is meant for a broader audience. Superman was rated PG-13, and 2026's Supergirl will likely have the same rating. Based on Supergirl's trailer, the film will still have some adult themes, but it seems to be on the same level as Superman regarding its rating.

However, the DCU is starting to explore R-rated films. 2026's Clayface is expected to be an R-rated body horror film exploring the origins of the notable Batman villain. Given the character's powers and background, his initial transformation into becoming Clayface could be disturbing and quite graphic.

It's intriguing to see DC creating more mature projects, like Lanterns, but R-rated superhero projects, like the Deadpool films, have worked in the past. However, the studio may not be able to take that approach with Superman and Supergirl, which is why it's keeping these characters more family-friendly.