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Lanterns release date, cast, trailer and latest news on DC series

Will this radical reinvention pay off? There's not long until we find out...

Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler as John Stewart and Hal Jordan in Lanterns. Their characters are in a bar decorated with white fairy lights, speaking to someone as part of their criminal investigation.

John Johnson / HBO Max

Published: Wednesday, 24 June 2026 at 5:01 pm

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We're mere days away from the return of James Gunn's DC Universe with Supergirl, but some fans are already looking ahead to his second project of the summer: Lanterns.

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In-keeping with his Guardians of the Galaxy credentials, the prolific filmmaker has prioritised bringing the cosmic side of the DC Comics to the screen, with the Green Lantern mythos being a key part of this.

However, rather than embrace it in all its colourful glory, Gunn has handed the reigns to Ozark's Chris Mundy and Watchmen's Damon Lindelof for an altogether more gritty twist on the source material.

Veteran Hal Jordan (Chandler) and rookie John Stewart (Pierre) are paired up to investigate a grisly murder that shocks a small Nebraskan town, but is there more to the case than meets the eye?

Recent releases suggest that there are more sci-fi elements to this story than that controversial first teaser indicated, but details about the plot have been kept largely under wraps so far.

One mystery surrounds the role played by Mundy's former Ozark collaborator Laura Linney, who makes a brief appearance in the latest Lanterns trailer – you can see for yourself here:

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We do know that this is just the beginning for Pierre's John Stewart, who will be sticking around for at least one more appearance, as he's joined the cast of James Gunn's Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow.

If you're intrigued to know more about the next big addition to DC's film and TV universe, read on for all the essential details on HBO Max's Lanterns – including the confirmed premiere date.

Lanterns release date

John Stewart and Hal Jordan sit on a metal structure with a rusted railing in front of them

Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler star in Lanterns John Johnson / HBO Max

Lanterns will premiere on HBO Max on Sunday 16 August (US) / Monday 17 August (UK).

The series drops simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic, but the UK launch falls into the early hours of the following morning due to the time difference between the two regions.

Nevertheless, it should be easier to dodge spoilers than if there were weeks or months separating the international rollout from the US debut, as has been the case numerous times in the past.

The release date was finally confirmed alongside a new image which actually shows something Green Lantern-related! That being, the charging of the power ring in the cosmic lantern (see below).

The image has enjoyed a warmer reception than most other advance looks at the series, which have been criticised for bearing little resemblance to the source material.

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Lanterns cast: Who stars in the DC Comics adaptation?

Aaron Pierre (Rebel Ridge) and Kyle Chandler (Godzilla) star in Lanterns, playing DC Comics characters John Stewart and Hal Jordan, both of whom are members of the titular intergalactic police force.

Green Lanterns wield rings that, among other abilities, allow them to create powerful constructs of whatever they can imagine, with the ring's strength derived from the wearer's willpower.

Chandler's Hal will be eyeing retirement after years of service in the Corps, with Pierre's John being a recent recruit chosen to take over the former's unruly sector.

The Green Lantern mythos hasn't had the most glorious luck transitioning to live-action, with 2011's critically panned Ryan Reynolds film being a low point, but things appear to be looking up in James Gunn's rebooted DC Universe.

Nathan Fillion stars as Guy Gardner aka Green Lantern in Superman, wielding a power ring on a rooftop with Hawkgirl flying behind him

Nathan Fillion stars in Superman. Warner Bros.

The writer-director introduced Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) – one of the less likeable members of the Corps – in last summer's Superman, with the character confirmed to return in Lanterns.

The Lanterns cast also includes Line of Duty's Kelly Macdonald as small town sheriff Kerry, Garret Dillahunt (Fear the Walking Dead) as modern cowboy William, and Ulrich Thomsen (Banshee) as comic book villain Sinestro.

Nicole Ari Parker and Sherman Augustus has been cast as John Stewart's parents, Bernadette and John Snr, with Poorna Jagannathan, Jason Ritter and Paul Ben-Victor rounding out the main cast.

A sheriff wears her uniform and stands in a sports hall, looking sternly ahead

Kelly Macdonald stars in DC's Lanterns. John Johnson / HBO Max

Intriguingly, Ozark star Laura Linney and Mission: Impossible alum Paula Patton have also bagged roles on the show, but their characters remain undisclosed for now.

Here's an overview of all the confirmed names for HBO's Lanterns:

Lanterns plot: What is it about?

Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler star in Lanterns; seen here as John Stewart and Hal Jordan, wearing civilian clothing and walking down a rural road

Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler star in Lanterns. HBO

Lanterns combines sci-fi elements from DC's cosmic Green Lantern comic books with a gritty Earth-based murder mystery.

The show introduces Hal Jordan and John Stewart – two of the most prominent characters to have held the Green Lantern mantle – depicting them as mentor and rookie on this eerie case.

The mismatched pair will have to find a way to get along and extract secrets from the residents of a small Nebraskan town, which appears to be somewhat suspicious of outsiders.

The Lanterns trailer was met with a flurry of criticism aimed at its drab colour palette and subdued characters, which evoke fellow HBO drama True Detective more so than a typical Green Lantern story.

A recent image, released exclusively to ScreenRant, doubled down on that polarising vibe, showing a dishevelled Hal and incredulous John wearing ordinary clothes in a rather plain-looking bar. See here:

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With Hal's arch-nemesis Sinestro confirmed to appear, it's possible that the series will become more fantastical at a later point in its run – or at least allude to greater threats in the wider DC Universe.

The show's tagline, which is featured on the digital poster unveiled by James Gunn, declares that "only one can wear the ring," implying that Hal and John may end up in a fight to claim its power.

However, this too has provoked ire among fans, who point out that the Green Lantern Corps of the comics has hundreds of ring-wearers, including several humans, in active service at any given time.

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Lanterns trailer

Lanterns dropped its first teaser trailer in March 2026, which received a decidedly mixed reception from fans. You can come to your own verdict below:

Watch trailer

A second trailer followed in May, which was greeted with much more optimism. Here's hoping Lanterns lives up to its potential:

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Authors

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of David Craig, smiling against a lime green background.

David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig is the Senior Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest and greatest scripted drama and comedy across television and streaming. Previously, he worked at Starburst Magazine, presented The Winter King Podcast for ITVX and studied Journalism at the University of Sheffield.

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