The Lanterns series premiere implies Alan Scott, the original Green Lantern, is not part of the DCU.
The debut of the HBO Max drama Lanterns has subtly, yet significantly, reshaped the foundational lore of the DC Universe, suggesting the absence of Alan Scott, the original Green Lantern. This narrative choice emerges from a pivotal scene in the series, which introduces Hal Jordan as Earth's inaugural wielder of the emerald power ring, effectively writing Scott out of the established continuity.
Lanterns, featuring Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart, opens with a 1996 60 Minutes interview that establishes Jordan's decade-long tenure as a Green Lantern. During this segment, the reporter explicitly refers to Jordan as "Earth's first Green Lantern," a designation Jordan himself affirms with a casual laugh. This detail serves as a clear indicator that Scott's historical role has been bypassed in the new DCU.
For those familiar with the rich tapestry of Green Lantern mythology, Alan Scott predates Hal Jordan in comic book history by nearly two decades. While both share the moniker and a magic ring, their origins and powers are distinctly different. Scott's ring was mystical, with ill-defined abilities, while Jordan's 1959 introduction reinvented the concept, establishing the Green Lantern Corps and their willpower-fueled constructs.
Further corroborating Scott's potential exclusion is an expansive mural seen in the Hall of Justice during the Superman film. This artwork, which meticulously depicts a broad array of historical superheroes and metahumans within the DCU, notably omits Alan Scott. Despite including other Golden Age figures like Sandman and Zatara, Scott's absence from this visual historical record reinforces the narrative that he may not exist in this continuity.
With Hal Jordan, John Stewart, and Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner already established as human Green Lanterns within the DCU, the narrative space for Alan Scott appears to be intentionally limited. While the fluid nature of comic book adaptations always leaves room for future retcons, the current evidence strongly suggests that the original Green Lantern will not be making an appearance in the immediate future of this cinematic universe.
