Which two timelines structure the story of the DC series Lanterns?

The DC series Lanterns is structured around the years 2016 and 2026.

The first storyline is set in 2016 and involves a murder in Rushville, Nebraska. Hal Jordan believes the killing may be an extraterrestrial incident. A connected storyline takes place in 2026, creating a narrative relationship between the earlier crime and the later investigation.

This two-period structure is one of the series' defining storytelling devices. It allows the show to explore the mystery across time while also examining the changing relationship between Jordan and John Stewart. The structure resembles the use of connected timelines in prestige crime dramas, although Lanterns adds Green Lantern mythology to the format.

The two timelines should not be confused with the 1941 and 1984 periods planned for an earlier Green Lantern project developed under Greg Berlanti. That earlier concept was substantially changed before the current Lanterns series was announced.

The 2025 film Superman occurs between Lanterns' two main story periods. Guy Gardner, played by Nathan Fillion, connects that film to the series' wider DC Universe continuity.