Supergirl may be taking James Gunn’s DC Universe to the stars in theaters, but Lanterns will bring the Green Lantern Corps back to television. The Green Lantern Corps has been a mainstay of DC Comics for 67 years, keeping the galaxy safe from fear, anger, and greed and relying on their willpower to save the day.
However, their big-screen debut in 2011’s Green Lantern remains a notorious critical bomb to this day, while they were limited to a brief cameo in the DCEU. However, the group has been established as a firm player in the current DC Universe, thanks to 2025’s Superman.
While the Justice Gang may have its own residential Green Lantern, one veteran will bring a young rookie into the Corps ranks in Lanterns. Here’s everything you need to know about the next major DC TV series:
What is Lanterns?
The Green Lanterns get a TV show
Lanterns is created by Watchmen’s Damon Lindelof, DC Comics writer Tom King, and Chris Mundy and is set to air on HBO. The series will focus on fan-favorite heroes Hal Jordan and John Stewart, played by Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre, respectively. As Earth’s veteran Lantern, Hal is set to mentor young Marine Stewart in how to harness his willpower in order to protect the sector.
However, both Lanterns turn their attention to a murder in Nebraska. While the crime may seemingly not have any universe-shattering implications at first, it soon becomes clear that there’s a darker mystery at play. Between Hal’s unconventional mentoring and the sinister forces at work, John’s initiation into the Corps promises to be a tense trial by fire.
How does Lanterns connect to the wider DC Universe?
Welcome to James Gunn’s DC
At the time of writing, the Green Lantern Corps is firmly established and somewhat known on Earth. While he may be a founder of the Justice Gang, Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner is a lax but dedicated member of the Corps. However, even with Guy being a mainstream hero, the Lanterns trailer is vague on how well-known Hal is, at least, despite his character making his comic debut 9 years before Gardner.
It has been confirmed that Fillion will reprise his role in Lanterns. While it is currently unknown how prominent a role he will have, it is possible that the series could dive into the history of the Lanterns assigned to Sector 2914, in which Earth is located. This, in turn, could allow the series to introduce older Green Lanterns into the universe, especially if the still-tightly-hidden murder victim has ties to the Corps itself.
- Dimensions
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6.4in x 3in x 1in
- Wi-Fi
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Yes
Who stars in Lanterns?
Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler lead the way
Alongside Jordan, Stewart, and Gardner, Lanterns has been confirmed to feature Sinestro, the former mentor to Jordan who turned his back on the Corps and would eventually found the Sinestro Corps in the comics. Ulrich Thomsen has been cast as the villain, yet the currently released details for Lanterns have not mentioned whether he has founded his own Corps, only describing him as Hal’s former friend and a “ruthless yet undeniably charming” figure. In terms of extraterrestrials, Paul Ben-Victor will play Antaan, a truth-seeker looking to expose those who wronged his people.
Meanwhile, Kelly Macdonald will play small-town sheriff Kerry, and Jason Ritter will play her husband, Billy Macon, son of covert conspiracy-obsessive William Macon, played by Garret Dillahunt. Meanwhile, John Stewart’s parents, John Stewart Sr. and Bernadette Stewart, will appear, played by Sherman August and Nicole Ari Parker, respectively. Other cast members include Pooma Jagannathan as Zoe, Chris Coy as “Waylon Sanders,” and Cary Christopher as Noah. Laura Linney and Paula Patton have also been cast, though little is known about their characters.
When will Lanterns release?
Coming this summer
Consisting of eight episodes, Lanterns is set to premiere on HBO and HBO Max in August 2026, following the June release of Supergirl. Within Gunn’s current plans for the DC Universe, the series exists as part of Chapter One: Gods and Monsters, which began with 2024’s animated series Creature Commandos, and is the second live-action television HBO Max project in the franchise. It is currently unknown what the characters’ futures will hold following the series’ release.
Given the character’s past live-action misfortunes, Lanterns has many factors against its success, but even ahead of release, the series has received some pointed criticisms. Between bringing the space-faring defenders down to Earth and early glimpses of Hal’s costume not truly embracing the bright greens the Corps are known for, there is a noticeable amount of skepticism surrounding the show, with it instead having more muted and worn colors.
The series is also promising to be a major tonal shift, trading Gunn’s trademark outcast-led, wacky yet sentimental style for a gritty, Neo-Western tone inspired by True Detective, making it unclear whether audiences are ready for the DC Universe to expand.
Lanterns’ expectations
It is understandable why Lanterns may try to ground itself after past failures and opt for far more mature storytelling to distance itself from past adaptations, but this doesn’t mean the series will be drowning in drama and seriousness. Hal’s and John’s mentor-slash-rival bond is promising to bring some levity into the series. With five months to go, Lanterns could easily become a standout feature among 2026’s superhero streaming offerings.
- Release Date
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August, 2026
- Network
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HBO
- Showrunner
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Chris Mundy
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Aaron Pierre
John Stewart
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Nathan Fillion
Guy Gardner
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Kelly Macdonald
Sheriff Kerry
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
