Forget Peacemaker, HBO’s upcoming Lanterns series is shaping up to be far more adult than fans expected. Multiple cast members, including Nathan Fillion, have hinted that the Green Lantern drama will land a TV-MA rating, HBO’s version of an R-rating. The show continues Fillion’s turn as Guy Gardner, first seen in Superman, and brings in Aaron Pierre as John Stewart and Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan.
While HBO has not announced an official rating, Fillion has made it clear that the language alone will push boundaries. At San Diego Comic-Con 2025, he told Variety he “dropped more F-bombs” in Lanterns than in his entire career combined. Speaking with ScreenRant, Fillion said he used the word more on his first day on set than in all his previous work. That level of profanity leaves little doubt about the tone HBO is going for.
In film, a single use of the F-word can bump a rating from PG-13 to R. On television, the rules are looser, but HBO has a long track record of not holding back. The network has rarely shied away from strong language, violence, or sexuality, and Lanterns appears to continue that tradition. Fans who expected a typical superhero adventure may be in for something much darker.
Comic writer Steve Engelhart also compared Lanterns to the first season of True Detective, saying the show would be “very dark and weird.” That tone points to a detective story with grim themes and moral decay. The series will reportedly follow John Stewart and Hal Jordan as they investigate a mysterious murder on Earth. Analysts say the mix of superhero elements and hard-boiled crime could push this DC entry into new territory.
Lanterns joins a growing list of DCU projects with mature ratings. Creature Commandos, Peacemaker Season 2, and the upcoming film Clayface have all received R or TV-MA designations. Even the animated Mister Miracle is set for mature audiences. Under James Gunn’s leadership, that approach appears deliberate. Gunn told reporters in 2024 that he “doesn’t care” about ratings and only focuses on what fits the story.
“If a story is going to be R-rated, we’re totally okay with that,” Gunn said. “If it’s going to be PG, PG-13, or G, whatever is worthy of the story, that’s what we’re going to do.”
That philosophy marks a shift from the family-friendly tone that has dominated most superhero franchises. While Marvel and Star Wars have stayed close to PG-13 limits, Gunn’s DCU seems ready to let creators go darker. As the franchise finds its footing, Lanterns may signal how far DC Studios is willing to push the boundaries of comic book storytelling. Analysts say the trend is far from over.
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