DC and HBO Unveil First Look at “Lanterns,” a Dark Green Lantern Spin-Off Series

DC and HBO have released the first teaser for their upcoming streaming series Lanterns, a fresh spin on the Green Lantern universe set to premiere in August 2026. The series follows rookie John Stewart and veteran Lantern Hal Jordan as they navigate a murder investigation in the heart of America, blending intergalactic superhero action with dark, Earth-based mysteries.

In the teaser, Kyle Chandler portrays Hal Jordan, the legendary Green Lantern, while Aaron Pierre stars as John Stewart, the new recruit stepping into the Lantern Corps. The ensemble cast also features Kelly Macdonald, Nathan Fillion reprising Guy Gardner from the DC Universe, along with Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Ulrich Thomsen, Nicole Ari Parker, Jason Ritter, Sherman Augustus, and Paul Ben-Victor as the villain Antaan.

The story places the cosmic Green Lanterns in a grounded, True Detective-esque mystery set in Nebraska. As intergalactic peacekeepers wielding their iconic power rings, Hal and John must confront darker secrets lurking on Earth, forcing them to balance superhero responsibilities with investigative grit. The series promises to blend superhero spectacle with psychological tension and noir-style storytelling.

Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King serve as creators and writers, with Mundy also as showrunner. Direction duties are shared by James Hawes, Geeta Vasant Patel, Alik Sakharov, and Stephen Williams. Produced by DC Studios, HBO, and Warner Bros Television, Lanterns marks a major attempt to reboot the Green Lantern franchise after the 2011 Green Lantern film starring Ryan Reynolds underperformed at the box office.

Set for August 2026, the series is already generating excitement for its darker take on familiar characters, combining superhero action, mystery, and intergalactic stakes. With James Gunn steering DC Studios and a strong creative team behind it, Lanterns aims to redefine the Green Lantern mythos for a new generation of fans.