The DC Universe is growing! Following the first live-action series, ‘Lanterns’ will now bring two of DC’s most popular comic book characters to television.
The show blends the adventurous spirit of Green Lantern with the gritty atmosphere of True Detective. It centers on seasoned space lawman Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and his new partner, John Stewart (Aaron Pierre), as they investigate a disturbing murder.
The first trailer for Lanterns might be too gloomy for viewers familiar with the comics, as it didn’t showcase the bright, vibrant visuals usually associated with Green Lantern and the DC Universe.
With the premiere of Lanterns this summer, fans are hoping producer James Gunn, along with the show’s creators – Chris Mundy (Ozark), Damon Lindelof (Watchmen), and Tom King (Supergirl) – can deliver something truly impressive and change the minds of those who are currently doubtful.
No matter how people react to the show, Pierre will definitely be back as John Stewart. He’s been cast in James Gunn’s upcoming Superman movie, ‘Man of Tomorrow’.
Want to learn about the upcoming series coming to the DC film and TV universe? Here’s everything you need to know about HBO Max’s Lanterns.
Lanterns release date speculation
While there’s no specific date confirmed yet, Lanterns is scheduled to premiere on HBO Max in August 2026.
Now that the streaming service is available in the UK, the new series will probably be released at the same time in both the US and the UK. This will help viewers avoid spoilers, as they won’t have to wait long to watch it.
We’ll update this page with more information on the release of DC’s Lanterns as it comes in.
Lanterns cast: Who stars in the DC Comics adaptation?
Aaron Pierre, known for his role in Rebel Ridge, and Kyle Chandler, from Godzilla, will appear in Lanterns as DC Comics heroes John Stewart and Hal Jordan. Both characters are members of the Lantern Corps, an interstellar police force.
Green Lanterns use rings that give them incredible powers, like the ability to create anything they can think of. The rings work by turning the Lantern’s own strength of will into energy.
I just saw the latest, and it’s fascinating to watch Hal, played by Chandler, wrestle with the idea of finally leaving the Corps after a long career. The film smartly contrasts him with John, portrayed by Pierre, a fresh-faced recruit thrown into the deep end – specifically, Hal’s notoriously chaotic sector. It sets up a really interesting dynamic, watching the old guard prepare the new for what’s coming.
The Green Lantern hasn’t had much success with live-action adaptations – the 2011 movie starring Ryan Reynolds was particularly poorly received. However, with James Gunn’s new DC Universe, things are starting to look brighter for the character.
The director featured Guy Gardner, a somewhat abrasive Green Lantern, in last summer’s Superman movie, and he’ll be back in the upcoming series, Lanterns.
The cast of The Lanterns features Kelly Macdonald, known for Line of Duty, playing the role of Sheriff Kerry. Garret Dillahunt, from Fear the Walking Dead, stars as William, a contemporary cowboy, and Ulrich Thomsen (Banshee) plays the villain Sinestro.
Nicole Ari Parker and Sherman Augustus will play John Stewart’s parents, Bernadette and John Sr. Poorna Jagannathan, Jason Ritter, and Paul Ben-Victor have also joined the main cast.
Laura Linney, known for her work on Ozark, and Paula Patton, famous from the Mission: Impossible films, have joined the cast, though details about their characters haven’t been revealed yet.
Here’s an overview of all the confirmed names for HBO’s Lanterns:
- Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan
- Aaron Pierre as John Stewart
- Kelly Macdonald as Kerry
- Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner
- Garret Dillahunt as William Macon
- Poorna Jagannathan as Zoe
- Ulrich Thomsen as Sinestro
- Nicole Ari Parker as Bernadette Stewart
- Jason Ritter as Billy Macon
- Sherman Augustus as John Stewart Sr
- Paul Ben-Victor as Antaan
- Chris Coy as “Waylon Sanders”
- Cary Christopher as Noah
- Laura Linney as TBC
- Paula Patton as TBC
Lanterns plot: What is it about?
Lanterns blends the science fiction world of DC’s Green Lantern with a down-to-earth murder mystery, creating a vibe similar to the TV show True Detective.
The show features Hal Jordan and John Stewart, two famous Green Lanterns, working together as a seasoned mentor guides a new recruit through a complicated mystery.
These two unlikely partners must learn to collaborate while also uncovering secrets from the people and police in a small Nebraska town that doesn’t quite trust strangers.
Now that Hal Jordan’s biggest enemy, Sinestro, is set to appear, the show might eventually take place in space, or at least hint at larger dangers within the DC Universe.
Lanterns trailer
The first trailer for Lanterns was released in March 2026 and didn’t impress many fans. They felt it was too dark and didn’t capture the look and feel of the comic books’ science fiction world.
You can come to your own verdict below:
Authors
David Craig writes about television and streaming drama and comedy for TopMob. Before joining them, he worked at Starburst Magazine, hosted the podcast ‘The Winter King’ for ITVX, and earned a degree in Journalism from the University of Sheffield.
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2026-04-22 20:35