Get ready for “Lanterns,” a new series coming to HBO and HBO Max that will launch James Gunn’s reimagined DC Universe on TV. This show offers a darker, more realistic take on the Green Lantern story. Created by the team behind “Ozark,” “Watchmen,” and a celebrated comic book writer, the series follows experienced space cop Hal Jordan and new recruit John Stewart as they team up to solve a disturbing murder in a quiet Nebraska town.
According to showrunner Mundy, the series will blend superhero action with the dynamic of a buddy cop show. The cast supports this tone, with Kelly Macdonald playing the local sheriff, Ulrich Thomsen as the villain Sinestro, and Nathan Fillion returning as Guy Gardner after his role as Superman. Laura Linney, known for her work in Ozark, has also joined the cast, though details about her character are currently being kept secret.
Last updated: 1 June 2026
Lanterns season 1 cast list
- Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan
- Aaron Pierre as John Stewart
- Kelly Macdonald as Sheriff Kerry Kane
- Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner
- Garret Dillahunt as William Macon
- Jason Ritter as Billy Macon
- Poorna Jagannathan as Zoe
- Ulrich Thomsen as Sinestro
- Nicole Ari Parker as Bernadette Stewart
- Sherman Augustus as John Stewart Sr
- Jasmine Cephas Jones as a younger Bernadette
- J Alphonse Nicholson as a younger John Stewart Sr
- Paul Ben-Victor as Antaan
- Chris Coy as Waylon Sanders
- Laura Linney as TBC
Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan
Hal Jordan is a seasoned Green Lantern thinking about retiring. However, when he’s asked to train a new Lantern, a murder case in the Midwest quickly escalates into a much larger problem.
You probably recognize Kyle Chandler from his roles as Coach Eric Taylor in the Emmy-winning series Friday Night Lights and John Rayburn in the Netflix drama Bloodline. He’s also appeared in blockbuster films like Godzilla: King of the Monsters and Godzilla vs Kong, where he played Dr. Mark Russell.
Aaron Pierre as John Stewart
John Stewart is a former Marine and a new Green Lantern. He’s been assigned to work with Hal Jordan, helping to manage a chaotic area of the universe. Stewart is known for being disciplined, observant, and powerfully effective, though he doesn’t always show it.
You might recognize Aaron Pierre from his recent roles in several popular projects. He had a standout year in 2024 with the Netflix thriller Rebel Ridge, where he played Terry Richmond. He also lent his voice to young Mufasa in Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King and portrayed Malcolm X in the series Genius: MLK/X. Before that, he appeared in Barry Jenkins’ The Underground Railroad and M. Night Shyamalan’s Old. He’s set to return as John Stewart in the upcoming Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow.
Kelly Macdonald as Sheriff Kerry Kane
This character is the sheriff of a small town in Nebraska, and is central to the murder investigation.
You might recognize Kelly Macdonald from her early role as Diane in the 1996 film Trainspotting, a character she revisited in the 2017 sequel. She’s also known for her critically acclaimed performance as Margaret Thompson in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, which earned her an Emmy nomination and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. More recently, she played a leading role in season 6 of the popular series Line of Duty.
Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner
Gardner is a new Green Lantern, a human character known for being bold and quick-tempered. He first appeared in the 2025 film, Superman.
You probably know Nathan Fillion from his roles in Joss Whedon’s Firefly and the movie Serenity. He also played mystery writer Richard Castle in the TV show Castle for eight seasons. More recently, he’s starred in The Rookie and has worked with director James Gunn on films like Slither, The Suicide Squad, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, as well as season two of Peacemaker.
Garret Dillahunt as William Macon
This character is a contemporary cowboy who’s a key part of the Nebraska community and gets involved in the investigation led by Hal and John.
You probably recognize Garret Dillahunt from his roles in several popular shows. He’s best known for playing John Dorie on Fear the Walking Dead (2018-2021). He also appeared in HBO’s Deadwood, remarkably playing two different characters – Jack McCall and Francis Wolcott – and starred as Burt Chance in the comedy Raising Hope.
Jason Ritter as Billy Macon
This character is the son of William Macon and Sheriff Kerry, connecting the main group of suspects on the show to the local police force.
You might recognize Jason Ritter from his role as Mark Cyr on the TV show Parenthood. He’s also known for voicing Dipper Pines in the animated series Gravity Falls and appearing in the movie Frozen II.
Poorna Jagannathan as Zoe
About the character: A new character pitched as composed and cunning.
You might recognize Poorna Jagannathan from her role as Dr. Nalini Vishwakumar in the Netflix comedy series Never Have I Ever, created by Mindy Kaling.
Laura Linney as TBC
While her role hasn’t been officially revealed, Linney appears briefly in the show’s trailer, telling John Stewart, “Then go and get it.” This has led fans to believe she may be a significant figure within the Green Lantern Corps, but this hasn’t been confirmed.
You likely recognize Laura Linney from her many acclaimed roles. She’s been nominated for an Oscar three times and has won an Emmy, most notably for her performance as Wendy Byrde in the Netflix series Ozark, alongside Jason Bateman. She also starred in and helped produce Showtime’s The Big C, and won an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award for her portrayal of Abigail Adams in HBO’s John Adams.
Ulrich Thomsen as Sinestro
Let me tell you about the villain in this film. He’s Hal Jordan’s old protégé, but things went south, really south. Think a former hero turned total tyrant – a Green Lantern who fell from grace and now wields the power of a Yellow Lantern. The actor playing him nails this complex character; he’s manipulative, utterly ruthless, but surprisingly…charming. It’s a fantastic performance, and you’ll find yourself almost rooting for him despite everything.
You might recognize Ulrich Thomsen from his early role in the acclaimed Danish film Festen. He later appeared as a villain in the James Bond movie The World Is Not Enough, and more recently, played Sinestro in the 2011 film Green Lantern, following Mark Strong in the role.
Nicole Ari Parker as Bernadette Stewart
About the character: John Stewart’s mother.
You might recognize Nicole Ari Parker from her current role as Lisa Todd Wexley in the HBO Max series And Just Like That…. She’s also appeared in films like Boogie Nights, Remember the Titans, and Brown Sugar, and she’s well-known for playing Giselle Barker on the TV show Empire.
Sherman Augustus as John Stewart Sr
This character is John Stewart’s father and, with Parker’s Bernadette, forms the new Lantern’s family.
You might recognize Sherman Augustus from his acting roles. He’s a former football player who’s now known for playing Nathaniel Moon in the series Into the Badlands and Lt. Colonel Jack Sullivan in seasons four and five of Stranger Things.
Supporting and guest Lanterns cast
Paul Ben-Victor, known from shows like The Wire and In Plain Sight, will play Antaan, and Chris Coy (The Deuce) will play Waylon Sanders. Both characters are connected to the central mystery involving the Macon family and their town. Jasmine Cephas Jones and J Alphonse Nicholson will portray the younger versions of John Stewart’s parents, Bernadette and John Sr.
Paula Patton, known for her work in the Mission: Impossible films, has joined the cast. Details about her character haven’t been revealed yet, similar to Julianne Linney’s role. Cary Christopher will play a character named Noah, who is a child.
Lanterns is on HBO Max from Monday 17 August 2026 in the UK.
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Authors
Morgan Jeffery leads the editorial content for TopMob across all its digital platforms as the Digital Editor. Before joining TopMob, he worked as a TV Editor at Digital Spy and has appeared as a television commentator on BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 5 Live, and Sky Atlantic.
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2026-06-01 18:36