It’s no secret that Green Lantern failed to impress both critically and commercially when it was released in 2011, resulting in a sequel being scrapped. Plans to make a Green Lantern Corps movie also failed to materialize during the DC Extended Universe era, as did a TV series starring characters like Alan Scott and Guy Gardner spanning decades. So yeah, it’s been a long journey to giving the Green Lantern mythos the live-action spotlight again, but now there’s finally an endpoint in sight thanks to Lanterns.
Taking place within the DC Universe franchise, which has already delivered Creature Commandos, Superman and Peacemaker Season 2, this upcoming DC TV show will give characters like Hal Jordan and John Stewart their own corner to shine on HBO. It was one of the first DCU projects to be announced for the Chapter One: Gods and Monsters slate, and was described by DC Studios co-head James Gunn as an “HBO-quality event” inspired by True Detective. So let’s go over what we know about Lanterns so far.
What Is Lanterns’ Release Date?
Lanterns currently does not have a premiere date set on the 2026 TV schedule yet. However, we do know that it will debut on HBO sometime around mid-2026, sometime after the upcoming DC movie Supergirl hits theaters at the end of June. Previously, Lanterns was expected to start airing on HBO at the beginning of 2026, but Peter Safran, who runs DC Studios with James Gunn, told CBR that the release plan was changed in order to get the “right timing.”
What Is Lanterns About?
Although Green Lantern is a key property in DC Comics’ cosmic storytelling, Lanterns will keep the action largely Earthbound. The series will follow veteran Green Lantern Corps member Hal Jordan and rookie John Stewart investigating a murder in Nebraska. But don’t worry, there will still be plenty of extraterrestrial characters and elements in the series for the two main protagonists to deal with as they’re attempting to solve this mystery.
Who Has Been Cast In Lanterns?
Lanterns casting news started arriving in September 2024, and now we have an impressive lineup of actors assembled for the TV show. Here’s who you’ll see on the small screen when you tune in to the HBO drama, be it live or streaming afterwards with your HBO Max subscription, later this year.
Kyle Chandler (Hal Jordan)
Though not the first Green Lantern introduced in the comics (that honor belongs to Alan Scott), Hal Jordan is the first human who was recruited into the Green Lantern Corps. Friday Night Lights’ Kyle Chandler will play Hal as a veteran Green Lantern who’s looking to retire soon.
Aaron Pierre (John Stewart)
In contrast, John Stewart is a fresh Green Lantern Corps recruit, and we’ll see Hal Jordan training him to be his replacement. Played by Rebel Ridge’s Aaron Pierre, this version of John is both a Marine and architect like he is in the comics.
Nathan Fillion (Guy Gardner)
We’ve already seen Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner in action in Superman, where he aided the Man of Steel with his fellow Justice Gang teammates Hawkgirl and Mr. Terrific. Now he’s back for Lanterns, though he won’t get as much screen time as Hal and John. Fillion also said that his character will be “a little bit higher strung” in the series.
Kelly Macdonald (Kerry)
When Hal and John arrive in the Nebraska town where this murder took place, they’ll meet Sheriff Kelly, played by Kelly Macdonald, whose credits include Trainspotting, Brave and Boardwalk Empire. Kerry is said to be devoted to her family and the “close-knit town,” though her allegiance to the former may end up fracturing given how shady her husband and his father already sound.
Garret Dillahunt (William Macon)
The father of Kerry’s husband Mason, modern cowboy William Macon, played by Fear the Walking Dead’s Garret Dillahunt, is described as “a self-righteous, conspiracy-minded man who masks his ruthless ambition behind a charming and calculated facade” (per Deadline). Although William also isn’t from the comics, some fans have speculated he’s actually Lanterns’ version of the villain Black Hand.
Ulrich Thomsen (Sinestro)
Ulrich Thomsen from Bansee is playing Sinestro, who was once Hal Jordan’s mentor and friend, but was banished from the Green Lantern Corps. Although not confirmed yet, it’s been rumored that not only will Thomsen’s Sinestro use the yellow energy of fear in Lanterns, he’ll already be leading the Sinestro Corps.
Paul Ben-Victor (Antaan)
Paul Ben-Victor of The Wire and Entourage fame is starring in Lanterns as an extraterrestrial named Antaan, who, according to Deadline, is “devoted to exposing the truth and exacting vengeance against those who wronged his people,” and dishes out his own brand of justice. However, some fans wonder if Antaan is actually the Red Lantern known as Atrocitus, especially after seeing a social media post from Garret Dillahunt.
Here are the other actors we’ll see in Lanterns:
- Poorna Jagannathan - Zoe
- Nicole Ari Parker - present day Bernadette Stewart
- Jasmine Cephas Jones - younger Bernadette Stewart
- Sherman Augustus - John Stewart Sr.
- J. Alphonse Nicholson - younger John Stewart Sr.
- Chris Coy - “Waylon Sanders”
- Cary Christopher - Noah
- Laura Linney - TBA
- Paula Patton - TBA
Where You've Seen Hal and John Before
Live action-wise, Hal Jordan was previously played by Ryan Reynolds in the Green Lantern movie. John Stewart has yet to be directly depicted in that format, but elements of the character were incorporated into Arrow’s John Diggle. You won’t have any trouble finding these two in animated TV shows, animated movies and video games, though. Among the greatest hits, John skyrocketed in popularity when he was used as one of the main characters in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, while Hal Jordan was Green Lantern: The Animated Series’ lead.
Who Are The Creatives Working On Lanterns?
Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof and Tom King teamed up to create Lanterns, with Mundy serving as showrunner. Mundy was previously the showrunner on Ozark and True Detective Season 4, so if anyone can nail the dark mystery vibe this DC show is going for, it’s him. Lindelof knows his way around sci-fi, as proven with credits like Lost, The Leftovers and Watchmen (the TV series). Then there’s King and his extensive comic book writing experience, including an extensive run on the main Batman book, as well as limited series like The Vision, Mister Miracle and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (which the DCU’s Supergirl movie is adapting.
Not only is Lanterns primed to give the Green Lantern mythology another chance to impress in live-action and connect to the wider, overlapping DCU storyline, it may end up being one of the prestige TV shows of 2026. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates on what to expect from it.
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