Marc Guggenheim, co-creator of The CW's Arrow, has offered a look at a Green Lantern series that never came to be. The show, titled "Emerald Knights," was a pitched approach to the Green Lantern Corps that aimed for a broader cast and a more cosmic scope than HBO's recently concluded Lanterns series.
Guggenheim shared concept art on his Substack, showcasing seven Lanterns engaged in a final stand against alien foes. Among the characters depicted are Guy Gardner, Kilowog, and a hint of Sinestro. The proposed series would have featured Gardner and an original character named Bree Jarta, whose designs bore a resemblance to actor Finn Wittrock and musician Janelle Monáe, respectively. Unlike HBO's Lanterns, which focused on the rivalry between Hal Jordan and John Stewart, "Emerald Knights" intended to explore a wider ensemble. The show's narrative would have spanned different time periods, featuring Gardner in the 1980s and an original Green Lantern, Alan Scott, in the 1940s. The primary antagonists were planned to be the Manhunters, with a tone reminiscent of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," rather than Jordan's rival, Sinestro.
Despite its potential CW leanings, "Emerald Knights" was originally commissioned by HBO in 2020. The project, developed largely by Guggenheim as a writer, ultimately fell apart around 2022 amidst turbulence at Warner Bros. The concept was developed during a period when the "Snyderverse" was being phased out. Now, James Gunn, who oversees the current DC Universe, has greenlit a Green Lantern series that began development in 2024.
While HBO's Lanterns garnered attention for its character dynamics despite a more limited budget and a focus on emotional struggles over superhero spectacle, "Emerald Knights" represented a different vision. Critics of the HBO series often pointed to a perceived lack of major action sequences and direct comic pull. However, Guggenheim's shared art provides a look at a version that, while visually distinct and potentially more expansive, was also intended for HBO and shared some thematic similarities with the final product.