Fans who spent years watching the DC movies in order were recently treated to a new project in Co-CEO James Gunn's new shared universe. Namely, the release of Lanterns, which is airing on HBO (and streaming with an HBO Max subscription). I got the chance to speak with the show's cast ahead of its premiere, where they joked about how they'd use the Green Lantern Power Ring if they had the chance.
What we know about Lanterns has been limited, but the series premiere offered some much-needed answers for the fandom. As you can see in the video above, I had a blast speaking with the cast about what they'd do with a Power Ring if they had it. Zoe actress Poorna Jagannathan had an A+ answer, telling me:
I would create a Japanese toilet to go wherever I go. Thank you very much... I talk about my Japanese toilet a lot. I don't know what is wrong with me.
Well, that's certainly a new one. While the premiere of Lanterns saw Hal Jordan construct green money for a jukebox and more, the Night Of actress had an even more unexpected way she'd use the Power Ring. Namely by making sure she could have a Japanese toilet anywhere she goes. Now that's something I'd love to see if the new DC series gets renewed for a second season.
Lanterns is the latest installment in the DCU's first slate of projects, titled Gods and Monsters. Only time will tell how the Green Lantern Corps. factor into the overall universe, but each one uses their ring differently. Actress Kelly Macdonald plays Sheriff Kerry Kane in the show, and revealed that she could use some superheroic help with IRL. She told me:
Funnily enough, when you were saying that, I though something that would really help me is, like, when they all decide to poop at the same time. And it's like, trying to keep your eye on where all the [poop is] I don't know what the thing I need invented would be, but it's something to help with the, yeah. Remember where the poop is.
Now this is a message I can get behind. While picking up one dog's poop is hard enough, trying to keep track of various pups and their doodies can be surprisingly difficult. And since Macdonald has plenty of pooches in her life, a Green Lantern construct to keep track of the poops and disposing of them would be a game changer.
While Lanterns' trailer was the subject of backlash for not having enough green, I love hearing how the cast would use the Power Ring if they slipped it on. Actor Garret Dillahunt plays Kerry's father-in-law William Macon, and would take laziness to a new level if he had a Green Lantern ring. In his words:
I feel like I'd like to make, like, a factory that just works twenty four seven for me. You know what I mean?
Honestly, same. I'd personally love things like laundry, dishes, and cleaning to become a thing of the past thanks to constructs from the Power Ring. We'll just have to wait and see how Hal Jordan and John Stewart use that powerful weapon as we get deeper into the new DC series.
Lanterns airs new episodes on Sundays on HBO as part of the 2026 TV schedule, and streams on HBO Max. Hopefully we get plenty more cool constructs in the rest of the show's first season on the air.
