According to sources online, a new trailer for the HBO Max series Lanterns briefly appeared online before being pulled down. This comes less than a week after the controversial first trailer was removed from the official HBO Max and Warner Bros. accounts.
The stuttering marketing rollout has some wondering whether the next chapter in James Gunn’s DC Universe is facing behind-the-scenes difficulties.
Questions Surround the Trailer Takedowns
There has been speculation that HBO Max and Warner Bros. removed the original trailer because of a music rights issue. It featured a remix of Bruce Springsteen’s “State Trooper.” If true, it would suggest a significant oversight by the Warner Bros. marketing team. Adding weight to the theory are reports that the music had been replaced with what could be part of the show’s original score.
The main characters in DC’s Lanterns on HBO – X, @DiscussingFilm
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Notably, the Lanterns trailer remains available in an X post shared by DC Studios head James Gunn.
You manifested it early.
The official #Lanterns teaser is here.
Coming this August. pic.twitter.com/cbA3vFotXd— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) March 4, 2026
In addition to new footage, the pulled trailer reportedly announced an August 16 release date. The original trailer had only provided the month. Some wondered if the new Lanterns trailer was taken down because the date — a Sunday — was incorrect.
Gunn Responds as Confusion Grows
After the trailer disappeared, Gunn confirmed the date in a post on X using a line from the Green Lantern oath. The post also featured a close-up image of a hand charging or interacting with a glowing green lantern power source.
Beware my power, Green Lantern’s light. #Lanterns premieres August 16 on @hbomax. pic.twitter.com/6p0ZFiEIlD
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) April 30, 2026
Fans were quick to note the vibrant emerald green in the image. Much of the earlier marketing had been criticized for its subdued color palette, which many described as “muddy.” Backlash intensified when showrunner Damon Lindelof remarked in an interview, “It’s called Lanterns because we all agreed that the green was stupid, so now it’s just Lanterns.”
Hal Jordan and Kyle Rayner fight side by side as Green Lanterns – YouTube, Comics Explained
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The brighter color in this new image suggests a creative pivot. However, with the release now so close, it seems unlikely that Lanterns will significantly alter the overall tone suggested by the first trailer. Much of the previously available footage follows Green Lanterns Hal Jordan and John Stewart as they drive through desert landscapes in what appears to be Nebraska.
With its heavy profanity and suggestion of a murder mystery, many have drawn comparisons to crime dramas such as True Detective.
The Bigger Question for DCU
Unless HBO Max, Warner Bros., or Gunn provide an explanation, the reason this new Lanterns trailer was pulled down almost as soon as it appeared will likely remain a mystery. The bigger question is whether the series itself will capture an audience. Trailers appearing and disappearing can create the impression of a studio in turmoil, and that uncertainty may carry over to viewers.
Superman beaten down in the trailer for James Gunn’s Superman – YouTube, DC
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The grounded, profanity-laced tone of the Lanterns marketing suggests a show far removed from the colorful, cosmic adventures featured in the comics. The growing question, then, is who the intended audience is for this new corner of the DCU. It does not appear aimed at the families who embraced Superman or may be drawn to this summer’s Supergirl.
Ultimately, if the series loses the larger sense of wonder long associated with Green Lantern, it may not just be the Lanterns trailer that disappears, but any momentum for the broader DCU as well.
Why do you think the new Lanterns trailer was pulled down? Let us know in the comments!
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