James Gunn's Next DCU Show On HBO Max Is The Complete Opposite Of Lanterns

Published Oct 19, 2026, 9:00 PM EDT

Lewis is a Lead Writer for Screen Rant and has written for the site since 2022. This has allowed Lewis to explore a vast array of films, TV shows, books, comic books, and games from across the mainstream world of pop culture, reflecting his lifelong love of all media and typifying his experience in the world of fiction storytelling. To top this off, Lewis graduated from Northumbria University with First Class Honours in Film & TV Studies, truly exemplifying his experience in the medium.

James Gunn's next DC Universe TV show is arriving sooner rather than later and will be completely different from Lanterns. As of October 2026, there are three upcoming DCU TV shows confirmed, with many more unconfirmed ideas likely in the works. After Creature Commandos, Peacemaker season 2, and Lanterns, the DC Universe is truly utilizing TV as much as it is the theatrical experience, with the latter causing much discussion. From Lanterns' many DC Easter eggs to the fate of its central characters, the DC show caused quite a stir.

Perhaps the main talking point stemming from Lanterns was its tone, which resembled a grounded, True Detective-style show and not the intergalactic superhero adventure some were expecting. Whether this changes going forward is one of the many questions left over from Lanterns, especially with Aaron Pierre's John Stewart set for an appearance in 2027's Man of Tomorrow. That said, if Lanterns season 2 were to happen, it would likely retain the more realistic, mystery drama tone that season 1 possessed.

While this is logical, the next DCU TV show after Lanterns could not be more different tonally. That show is The People vs. Gorilla Grodd, a mockumentary crime show centered on the titular gorilla, as workers from Superman's Daily Planet try to prove his innocence in an old case. Based on what has been revealed about the show thus far, it is clear that The People vs. Gorilla Grodd is going to be much less self-serious, leaning into the humor that comes from the mockumentary format.

In the first report for the series by Deadline upon its confirmation, James Gunn stated that the show would explore the "funnier streets and alleyways of the DCU." In the same report, Amy Gravitt, HBO's head of comedy productions, stated that she could not wait for audiences to witness Jimmy Tatro's "hilarious" depiction of Gorilla Grodd. All of this coalesces to result in The People vs. Gorilla Grodd being a distinctly humorous, sillier show than Lanterns ever was, making the former the complete opposite of the latter.

The People Vs. Gorilla Grodd Will Fix A Big Lanterns Complaint

One of the biggest complaints about Lanterns, stemming from its serious tone, was its lack of wider DCU connections and stereotypical superhero elements. Given what has been revealed about The People vs. Gorilla Grodd, the next DCU show will go in the opposite direction. The mockumentary-style story of the show will allow characters from the Daily Planet to encounter plenty of weird elements of the DC Universe, chief among them the walking, talking, telepathic gorilla at the project's center.

This will bring an entirely different flavor to the DCU than Lanterns did, which was much more concerned with deconstructing and analyzing the human characters of its story than the more otherworldly, comic-booky elements of the Green Lantern Corps. The People vs. Gorilla Grodd will likely be more like the MCU's She-Hulk show, with characters encountering and dealing with the stranger characters and creatures of the DCU, fixing the complaint that Lanterns did not branch out much beyond its Midwestern town setting.

Lanterns & Gorilla Grodd Highlight A Key DCU Strength

Credit: John P. Johnson / ©HBO / Courtesy Everett Collection

Although The People vs. Gorilla Grodd will shed light on some of Lanterns' biggest criticisms, the differences between the two show ironically highlight the overall strength of the DC Universe. Since the franchise's announcement, James Gunn has been clear in his insistence that the DCU will allow filmmakers to put their own stamp on whatever project they may be creating. From tone and script to visual language and character arcs, the DCU offers greater freedom for each project to be different from the last.

This has certainly been the case thus far, with closely connected projects like Superman and Supergirl having distinct styles. On the TV side of things, Creature Commandos was very different from Peacemaker season 2, with Lanterns being different from both. Now, The People vs. Gorilla Grodd will continue to display the biggest strength of the DC Universe: its ability to have varying projects with distinct voices all be part of the same interconnected universe.

• 

  Kyle Chandler

  Hal Jordan

• 

  Aaron Pierre

  John Stewart