Tom King, a Lanterns in more ways than one. The veteran comic book writer, who is serving as a writer and an executive producer on Lanterns, will be bringing in influences from his own comics, including Omega Men, which heavily featured Green Lantern Kyle Rayner.

King has never written Green Lantern comics, but he has written a number of "cosmic" DC stories over the years, most notably Omega Men with artist Barnaby Bagenda, one of his early hits featuring Green Lantern Kyle Rayner in its main cast.

The writer is set to serve as a producer on Lanterns, and will be shaping the cinematic course for Hal Jordan and John Stewart, even while the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow movie - based on a comic by King and Bilquis Evely - takes shape. According to a quote circulating widely on X from DC Studios boss Gunn, the Lanterns story will originate with King:

It's more like Tom doing a version of Lanterns in the same way that he did Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow...Mister Miracle...the same way he did my favorite, Adam Strange: Strange Adventures.

Tom King's DC Comics Are Their Own Little Worlds

DC Universe Continuity Rarely Bogs Down King's Ambitious Works

The quote originated at a press event Gunn held for DC Studios in the early weeks of 2025. There, he discussed the future of the DC Universe, including some new projects and a number of updates to previously-announced movies and TV shows. Gunn has repeatedly praised Strange Adventures, King's miniseries with artists Doc Shaner and Mitch Gerads, and has had kind words for King since before their working relationship was revealed. King has minimal Hollywood experience but did write the never-produced New Gods movie for filmmaker Ava DuVernay.

King tends to focus on the high concept of a character, then tell the biggest story he can.

While King has written a number of in-universe comics that sync up with DC's canon, like Batman and Wonder Woman, most of his hits are stand-alone miniseries that allow King to break rules and take big swings. King and Gerads' Eisner-winning Mister Miracle set the template, although it was influenced by Omega Men. Later series that took a similar approach include King's Strange Adventures and Human Target with Greg Smallwood. King tends to focus on the high concept of a character, then tell the biggest story he can.

What DC Comics Fans Know So Far About Lanterns

The Series Will Feature Hal Jordan and John Stewart

Variety shared a first look at Lanterns just after the DC Studios event in Los Angeles. The characters appear in civilian clothes rather than their superhero costumes, and that likely gives fans a sense of what to expect from the show, which has been described as "grounded" and inspired by True Detective in prior interviews and announcements. Lanterns will take the whole idea of Green Lanterns as cosmic cops to the next level as they investigate "a murder in the American heartland." The series will be written by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and King.

HBO's Lantern's is the second live-action adaptation of Green Lantern, following the 2011 movie starring Ryan Reynolds. Guy Gardner's Lantern will appear in Gunn's Superman, and there have been other appearances as well; David Ramsey's John Diggle on Arrow got a ring at one point, and the failed Justice League pilot featured a version of Green Lantern. Even Zack Snyder's Justice League featured a cameo by an alien Green Lantern. Lanterns will be the highest-profile attempt yet to debut a live-action version of a DC Comics ring-slinger, with plans to tie into the larger DCU.

Tom King's body of work with DC Comics is available now both digitally and in various collected editions, including his most recent title, Wonder Woman, with artist Daniel Sampere.

Source: @EverythingDCU_