Hal and Jordan Fight in Lanterns First Footage (And We Know When the Trailer Is Coming)

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The first year of the new DC Universe has been a huge success. James Gunn and Peter Safran have led the way with popular and well-received projects like Creature Commandos, Superman, and the second season of Peacemaker, successfully breathing new life into the DC brand. This success is just the start of a larger plan stretching into 2026. After a sneak peek at the upcoming Supergirl movie, DC Studios is now focusing on its television projects, recently revealing a first look at Lanterns, a cosmic detective story.

HBO recently unveiled a preview of its upcoming 2026 shows, including popular series like Euphoria, House of the Dragon, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The biggest news for superhero fans, though, was the first look at Lanterns, which showed a scene with a lot of tension between the main characters.

In a dramatic scene, John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) declares he’s prepared for what’s ahead, but Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) quickly disagrees. Jordan insists Stewart isn’t ready until the Green Lantern ring approves. He then throws the ring onto the car’s dashboard and jumps out, leaving Stewart trapped as the vehicle falls off a cliff. This establishes their relationship as a harsh mentorship with incredibly high stakes right from the start.

Lanterns First Footage Comes Just Before Its Trailer

— HBO Max (@hbomax) December 12, 2025

This initial clip is just a taste of what’s coming later today. HBO has announced the full trailer for Lanterns will debut at 4 pm Eastern Time. The trailer should give more details about the confusing car chase we’ve already seen and explain what the story is all about. The series centers on John Stewart, a new member of the Lantern Corps, and the experienced Hal Jordan as they team up to solve a strange mystery happening in the middle of America.

The upcoming series Lanterns not only features popular interpretations of Green Lantern, but also has a strong creative team behind it. Ozark‘s Chris Mundy is the main showrunner, collaborating with Watchmen‘s Damon Lindelof and renowned comic writer Tom King. This team suggests a dark and realistic tone, similar to True Detective, as described by James Gunn. Unlike traditional Green Lantern stories set in space, Lanterns focuses on Lanterns working as detectives on Earth, investigating a frightening, ancient mystery that will connect to the wider DC Universe story.

The trailer suggests a challenging relationship between Jordan and Stewart, where Jordan pushes Stewart to quickly learn the ropes in order to survive. This intense, demanding approach is similar to classic buddy-cop pairings, but with much higher stakes – they’re responsible for controlling the universe’s most powerful weapon. As a key part of the franchise’s second year, the trailer aims to establish the feel for what looks to be a truly original superhero series.

Lanterns is scheduled to premiere on HBO in late 2026. 

What part of the new Lanterns trailer are you looking forward to the most? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-12-12 16:40