Lanterns episode 8 trailer spawns major new fan theory about John Stewart's fate

Date:
Mon, 28 Sep 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Description:
Lanterns' season 1 finale teaser suggests John Stewart's story might not end in the way we think it will in the HBO Max show.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter The teaser for Lanterns '
eighth and final episode has been posted online It's sparked a major new fan theory about John Stewart and Sinestro It appears to have ties to the show's name and title card Disclaimer Full spoilers immediately follow for Lanterns episode 7. Potentially huge spoilers are also discussed for Lanterns episode 8. The trailer for Lanterns ' season 1 finale has sparked a major new theory among fans and it's got nothing to do with the central mystery surrounding Hal Jordan.

HBO's Green Lantern TV show has been a hot topic of conversation since it premiered in mid-August. Indeed, ever since Lanterns episode 1 dropped the bombshell that Hal Jordan had been murdered in its 2026 storyline , fans
have, among other things, been trying to solve events surrounding this shocking moment. With just one chapter, titled 'Dirt and Stars' remaining, many are hoping that Lanterns will explain all before its end credits roll
for the final time. However, viewers are also now wondering about John Stewart's fate in the HBO Max show following the release of the forthcoming finale's teaser and I'm starting to believe that what they're predicting might come to pass. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: Is John Stewart going to become the DC Universe's first Yellow Lantern? Some
fans are convinced that John Stewart will become the DCU's first Yellow Lantern (Image credit: HBO/DC Studios) I'll preface what follows by saying I haven't seen 'Dirt and Stars'. I watched the first seven episodes for my spoiler-free Lanterns review , but HBO and DC Studios don't want anything
from this week's chapter to leak online ahead of time. As such, members of
the press won't see it prior to its debut on October 4/5, which means I have no insider information on how the season 1 story will be wrapped up.

But, I digress. With Stewart and the Hal-O-Gram the latter being a digital back-up of Jordan's consciousness, which lives inside Jordan's Green Lantern ring traveling off-world and crossing paths with Sinestro in episode 7, the stage is set for a dramatic season finale. You may like Lanterns midseason trailer sparks fascinating new fan theory about Hal Jordan Lanterns episode 1 ending explained: is [spoiler] really dead in the HBO Max show? 5 big questions I need Lanterns episode 6 to answer, including who killed [spoiler]

The debuting of Lanterns episode 8 teaser, which appears after this week's entry and has been shared online via third-party sources, has only further raised our collective excitement levels. More than that, though, it's sparked a new fan theory that, as this article's sub-header acknowledges, Stewart might be getting set up to be the DC Universe's ( DCU ) first Yellow Lantern. Lanterns 1x08 Promo (HD) Season Finale | DC Universe series - YouTube Watch
On I covered the creation of the Yellow Lanterns, otherwise known as the Sinestro Corps., in my Sinestro in Lanterns explained article. Essentially, though, this antagonistic faction wield Lantern rings fueled by fear, rather than willpower, which powers Green Lantern rings. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

With Yellow Lanterns being required to understand and control fear, it's not
a leap to suggest that the DCU's Stewart is a prime candidate for this role.

After all, he's been trained to be fearless since the age of five, so he'd make for a perfect Yellow Lantern if the manipulative Sinestro can persuade Stewart to join his cause something Sinestro is clearly trying to do by telling Stewart: "The Guardians [of the Universe] think fear makes you weak. They couldn't be more wrong. Fear can be the most powerful force in the universe."

Some fans are convinced that, while Stewart might not fully help to form the Sinestro Corps. in the DCU Chapter One project, he's set to become a Yellow Lantern instead of a Green one, too. What to read next Lanterns episode 5 ending explained: who dies and why does John Stewart [spoiler]? HBO boss
drops huge hint about Lanterns season 2 amid show's growing popularity 'I didn't think they'd let us do it': Lanterns creators on episode 1's big plot twist Comment from r/LanternsTVSeries "Is it just me, or are they setting up John as a Yellow Lantern?" Reddit user MrMojoRising422 mused. "John's gonna
be a Lantern.. but Green? not 100% sure," FlashyClaim also pondered, before fmalk wrote: "Maybe he's only meant to be a Lantern in [James Gunn's Superman sequel] Man of Tomorrow ? After this episode 7, I wouldn't bet 100% on him been Green."

"Yeah, the finale is gonna be about Sinestro tempting John with becoming a Yellow Lantern," Maleficent-Choice254 suggested, while ArcadianBlueRogue asked: "Are....are they gonna have the balls to have John have to pick
between the Green and Yellow rings?" Comment from r/Greenlantern There's evidence to suggest this fan theory might not be so wild, either.

For one, Lanterns ' tagline of "only one can wear the ring" implies that
there can only be one Green Lantern on planet Earth. Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner is the current holder of that title so, unless Stewart finds a loophole that allows Earth to have two Green Lanterns, becoming a Yellow Lantern might be the only option available to him.

As Redditors Elegant_Positive5768 and M00reC , plus X/Twitter user OlinOnBull , point out, DC Studios co-head James Gunn shared a very specific image of John Stewart when Lanterns was announced as part of the original DCU Chapter One line-up in January 2023 . The picture in question? Stewart wielding a Yellow Lantern ring. Hang on, did James Gunn tease John Stewart would become
a Yellow Lantern over three years ago?! (Image credit: DC Studios) Another sign that gives legs to this hypothesis is the Hal-O-Gram telling Stewart "you're taking a very big risk" in the episode 8 teaser.

Is he warning Stewart that he's taking a major gamble by trusting Sinestro and/or becoming a Yellow Lantern, which would infuriate the Guardians? If so, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Guardians send Guy Gardner, aka Earth's current Green Lantern, to forewarn Stewart about the potential pitfalls of doing this.

The season finale's teaser confirms Gardner will show up. Furthermore, at the 1:31 mark of Lanterns ' official trailer , we see Gardner telling someone
that an army is going to be sent to "put you down". That trailer was edited
in a way to make it seem like he was talking to Jordan, but what if it's actually Stewart who he's speaking to? The Lanterns finale has a lot to carry (Kerry?), but based on whats been established on the show and some of the swings its been taking, I dont see John Stewart becoming Green Lantern by the end. Itll be controversial as hell, butI think he gets a yellow ring. #Lanterns September 28, 2026 As the above X/Twitter user points out, we already know Aaron Pierre will return as John Stewart in Man of Tomorrow ,
but there's no word on whether he'll be a Green Lantern in one of next year's most exciting new movies .

I'll readily admit it'll be a massive and likely controversial swing from Lanterns ' creators and wider writing team if it ends with Stewart being a Yellow Lantern rather than a Green Lantern. But hey, I'm all for narrative surprises if it's not to the detriment of a character's overarching journey. So, if all roads have been leading Stewart to become a Yellow Lantern (even
if it's temporary), I'm all for it.

But, what do you think: will Stewart end season 1 as a Green or Yellow Lantern? Let me know in the comments. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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