Superman takes place between Lanterns’ two main story periods.
Lanterns unfolds across two connected timelines: one set in 2016 and another set in 2026. The events of Superman occur between those two settings.
This placement is significant because Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner appears in both DCU projects. Gardner’s role in Lanterns is aligned with the 2026 storyline, linking the television series to the first DC Universe film.
The connection does not mean Lanterns simply retells Superman. The series was designed to stand on its own and tell a complete story, while still contributing to the wider DCU storyline. Its central case remains the murder investigated by Hal Jordan and John Stewart.