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Tag: Lanterns

  • ‘Lanterns’ Reportedly Recruits Christopher Cantwell to Map Out Season 2 Ahead of Premiere

    ‘Lanterns’ Reportedly Recruits Christopher Cantwell to Map Out Season 2 Ahead of Premiere

    DC Studios and HBO aren’t just confident in Lanterns—they are already building the future. Industry insider Jeff “The In” Sneider has revealed that Christopher Cantwell has officially signed on as an executive producer and writer for the high-prestige Green Lantern series.

    Even though the series hasn’t formally debuted its first season yet, the creative team is reportedly heading back into the writer’s room immediately to pen scripts for Season 2. Bringing Cantwell into a brain trust that already features Damon Lindelof and Tom King is a massive statement of intent. Cantwell has spent years proving he can juggle complex, character-driven television (Halt and Catch Fire) while simultaneously understanding the intricate lore of major comic book universes.

    According to Sneider, “HBO took the opportunity to bring in an experienced TV veteran, and Cantwell was the perfect fit, as it just so happens that he’s a prolific comic book writer. Cantwell has worked on such titles as Iron Man, Captain America, Doctor Doom, Gold Goblin, The Mask, and Star Wars: Obi-Wan.”

    As Sneider explains, Cantwell‘s addition to the creative team of the HBO Max series comes without a second season having been officially given the GREEN light.

    Cantwell is coming aboard now because the writer’s room for Lanterns will soon be reconvening despite the lack of official renewal. TV networks often want to have scripts ready so they can start production faster if a show is picked up for a second season, which again, feels somewhat inevitable here — the pending Paramount merger notwithstanding.

    This proactive writing cycle is designed to entirely bypass the lengthy multi-year gaps that routinely plague premium HBO dramas. By locking down scripts now, James Gunn and Peter Safran are ensuring that once the pending Paramount/WB corporate merger clears, the production pipeline for the cosmic side of the DCU remains completely uninterrupted.

    Per WBD, The series follows new recruit John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) and Lantern legend Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler), two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.

  • ‘Lanterns’ to Reshape DCU Timeline; Sinestro’s Role Revealed

    The DCU timeline is getting a lot more complicated—and a lot more interesting. In a surprising reveal via EW, showrunner Chris Mundy (Ozark) has confirmed that the upcoming HBO series Lanterns is a period piece, officially set in the year 2016…and also in 2026.

    According to Mundy, the show opens with veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan and Lantern-in-training John Stewart investigating a murder in Rushville, Nebraska set in 2016. However, it’s also partially set in 2026, after the events of Superman, where a second–and seemingly connected mystery–needs investigation.

    “That becomes a second mystery that we know is down the road for us,” Mundy revealed. “So eventually two different mysteries get worked out over the course of the show.”

    Mundy confirmed a controversial detail: outside of a few appearances by the “fabulously obnoxious” Guy Gardner, no other Earth-based Green Lanterns will appear in the eight-episode first season. In 2016, Hal and John are the only two humans to have ever worn the ring. This keeps the focus tight on their “True Detective” style mystery in the American heartland.

    The biggest draw for many fans will be the portrayal of Thaal Sinestro, though Mundy stopped short of revealing if the traitorous Korugarian will be the primary antagonist of Season 1.

    “Obviously in the canon, Sinestro’s the big bad,” said Mundy. “The thing that interests us is this idea [that] Hal was trained by Sinestro, Hal is training John. In the coaching tree, we’re very interested in what gets passed on, what doesn’t, how much is human nature. We talked a lot about programming and parenting and training…What did Hal take away from Sinestro that was good or bad? It brings up a lot of interesting worries.”

    By setting Lanterns in 2016, James Gunn and Peter Safran are building a history for the DCU. It gives the world weight—showing what the heroes have been in the years before Superman went public. It also allows the show to potentially focus on the legendary Hal/Sinestro friendship before it becomes the franchise’s most iconic rivalry.

    Lanterns will stream on HBO Max this August.

    Source: Entertainment Weekly

  • Is ‘Lanterns’ Actually a Prequel? Decoding the Hal Jordan Continuity Mystery

    Is ‘Lanterns’ Actually a Prequel? Decoding the Hal Jordan Continuity Mystery

    One single line from the first teaser for HBO’s Lanterns has sent the internet into a tailspin as the first cracks in the continuity of the all-new, all-different DCU could be showing.

    In a world where Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner is already an established, public-facing hero–as seen in last year’s Superman–why is Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan acting like he’s the only human to ever touch a power ring?

    The Line That Launched a Thousand Theories

    The moment in question occurs early in the teaser when Hal Jordan refers to himself as the only human Green Lantern in a conversation with new recruit John Stewart.

    For the casual viewer, it’s a line that establishes Hal’s veteran status. For the die-hards who just watched Guy Gardner trade quips with David Corenswet’s Superman, it’s a massive continuity red flag. As seen in Superman, Guy Gardner is not just a Lantern; he’s a celebrity. So, did Marvel’s “Quality over Quantity” rival just make its first major continuity blunder?

    Probably not. Knowing James Gunn, the answer is either a very specific character trait or, more likely, a shift in the timeline.

    The Case for the Prequel

    The leading theory—and truly the more interesting one—is that Lanterns is a prequel set years before the events of Superman.

    The official synopsis for the show repeatedly refers to John Stewart as a “new recruit.” If the show were set in the current DCU timeline (late 2025/early 2026), John would be joining a world already populated by Guy Gardner and potentially other Earth-based heroes.

    As has been widely discussed since the teaser debuted, Hal’s gear looks ancient. It’s weathered, tactical, and looks like it belongs in a world where the Justice Gang doesn’t exist yet. Setting the show in the early 2010s or 2020s would allow the “Earth-based mystery” to feel isolated and high-stakes without the interference of other caped icons.

    While Nathan Fillion is confirmed to appear in the series, his role has been described as “smug and devious.” Fillion himself recently teased in Gizmodo that “Guy Gardner is no longer comfortable” by the end of the show. Could this suggest that  Lanterns may also be Guy’s origin story—perhaps a moment where the ring chooses him after Hal’s era comes to an end?

    The “Hal is a Jerk” Alternative

    Of course, there is a second, much more “Green Lantern” explanation: Hal Jordan is just being Hal Jordan.

    In the comics, Hal’s relationship with Guy Gardner is defined by mutual loathing. Hal famously views himself as the True Lantern of Earth. It’s entirely possible that Lanterns takes place in the present day, and Hal simply refuses to acknowledge Guy Gardner as a legit Lantern. To Hal, a loudmouth like Guy is a glitch in the system, not a partner.

    However, this doesn’t explain why John Stewart—a man who presumably watches the news—wouldn’t mention the flying ginger with the bowl cut who just helped save Metropolis.

    3 CENTURIES AGO, the first superpowered beings, known as METAHUMANS, appeared on earth, ushering in a new era of GODS AND MONSTERS.

    3 DECADES AGO, an extraterrestrial baby was sent in a spacecraft to Earth, and adopted by Kansas farmers.

    3 YEARS AGO, the baby, now grown, announced himself as SUPERMAN, the most powerful metahuman of all.

    3 WEEKS AGO, Superman stopped the country of BORAVIA from invading JARHANPUR, sparking controversy around the world.

    3 HOURS AGO, a metahuman called THE HAMMER OF BORAVIA attacked Superman in the city of METROPOLIS.

    3 MINUTES AGO, Superman lost a battle for the first time.

    From a production standpoint, the prequel angle is the smartest play for HBO. The key to prestige TV is making the story feel standalone, and setting Lanterns before Superman–especially when it’s been established that metahumans have been known for some time–opens some intriguing doors.

    By setting Lanterns in the past, Gunn, Chris Mundy, and Tom King can deliver a True Detective style thriller that isn’t burdened by the “Where was Superman during this?” question. It allows the Hal/John dynamic to be the center of the universe, building the foundation of the Green Lantern Corps lore before we see them fully integrated into the larger DCU battles of 2027 and beyond.

    And then it leaves plenty of room to ask questions about why neither Hal nor John are present in Superman. Do Hal and John  get wrapped up in something that takes them both into space to investigate further? Or maybe just John?

    Whether it’s a prequel or just a case of selective memory from a jaded Hal Jordan, the mystery is officially part of the marketing and the human Lantern discrepancy is likely the first breadcrumb in a trail that leads directly to the ancient horror at the heart of the series.

  • ‘LANTERNS’ Trailer Leaks Early, Revealing Premiere Month and a Controversial New Look

    Well, so much for the big Thursday reveal. In a move that probably has the DC Studios security team looking for new jobs, the first full trailer for Lanterns leaked online today. While the official drop was slated for tomorrow, the cat is out of the bag, and it’s bringing a release window with it: August 2026.

    However, it’s not the revelation of th “late-summer” date that’s getting talked about online, it’s the tone—and a very specific color palette.

    True Detective with a Ring

    James Gunn and Chris Mundy made it clear early on that they were not interested in a Green Lantern project set in a bubble-gum-colored corner of the galaxy. Instead, the trailer reveals that this is every bit the grounded, atmospheric murder mystery it has always been made out to be.

    Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan is every bit the “grizzled vet” we expected, but the internet is currently losing its mind over the first look at the suits. Instead of the emerald-green glow fans of the comics and animated series have grown accustomed to, the trailer receals a tactical, almost “brownish-green” weathered uniform. It’s a choice congruent with what Nathan Fillion‘s Guy Gardner was sporting in Superman and that leans heavily into the utility aspect of the Corps—making them look like intergalactic peacekeepers who have been through the ringer a time or two.

    We also got a brief glimpse of the supporting cast, including Kelly Macdonald and Garret Dillahunt, who seem to be playing the local resistance to the Lanterns’ investigation. And yes, for those counting frames, there was a subtle nod to the larger DCU roadmap—specifically a hint that the murder in the American heartland isn’t just a local crime, but a thread that leads directly into Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.

    The early reaction is mixed at best–and I get it. Fans who were hoping for an immediate trip to Oa or a Sinestro Corps war tease are feeling a bit let down by the lack of massive constructs. Aside from a brief shot of Hal taking flight and a look at a very industrial-looking Power Battery, the trailer very much seems to be keeping its powder dry…but there’s really no guarantee that will change over the course of the series.

    Maybe, choosing to start slow is the right choice. Maybe by starting in the Nebraska mud and focusing on the friction between Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart and a reluctant Hal, they’re building a solid foundation. Maybe, by the time the  “ancient horror on Earth” is unveiled, the scale will come. For now, they’re selling us a story about two guys who have a job to do. DC is positioning Lanterns as the serious, adult-skewing prestige counter-programming.

    Is Hal’s tactical brown”l suit a mistake? Maybe. But if the mystery is as tight as Ozark or Watchmen, the color of the spandex won’t matter. Or maybe, it’ll be DC Studios’ Iron Fist.

  • 5 Things to Hunt for in Tomorrow’s ‘LANTERNS’ Teaser

    5 Things to Hunt for in Tomorrow’s ‘LANTERNS’ Teaser

    Tomorrow is the big day. We’ve been talking about the shift from space opera to “Earth-based mystery” for over a year, and now we finally get to see if James Gunn’s “Gods and Monsters” gamble pays off. But don’t let the Nebraska setting fool you—this show is intended to be the connective tissue for the entire DCU.

    As you’re watching the footage tomorrow, here is exactly what I’ll be looking for:

    1. The “Ancient Evil”

    James Gunn has been very specific about Hal and John finding an “ancient horror” on Earth. Rumors have been swirling about everything from The Centre (from New Frontier) to The Rot. Look for any imagery that feels Lovecraftian or out of place in a small-town murder mystery. If we see something that doesn’t look like a typical alien, it’s a sign that the DCU’s overarching big bad is closer than we think.

    2. The Suit (or Lack Thereof)

    There’s been a lot of internal chatter about whether the Lantern suits will be practical or CG. Given the leaked first look at Hal’s brown(?) suit, we may see much for of him and John them in plain clothes with the rings glowing, indicating that DC Studios is leaning into the Supercop grit rather than the superhero spectacle.

    We have a few other Lanterns peppered in there but this is really a terrestrial based TV show which is almost like True Detective with a couple of Green Lanterns who are space cops watching over Precinct Earth in it they discover a terrifying mystery that ties into our largest story of the DCU.

    -James Gunn

    3. Ch’p and the Weirdness

    You can’t have a Tom King/James Gunn project without a dash of the weird. Reports have suggested that the fan-favorite squirrel Lantern, Ch’p, might get a name-drop or a brief cameo. If a talking rodent shows up in a gritty HBO procedural, you’ll know exactly whose fingerprints are on the script.

    4. The “Hal is a Jerk” Factor

    Showrunner Chris Mundy has described Hal Jordan as having a “Chuck Yeager vibe”—someone you’re not sure if you want to hug or punch. Keep an eye on the friction between Chandler’s Hal and Pierre’s John. If the teaser emphasizes their bickering over their heroics, it confirms the buddy-cop dynamic is the real heart of the show.

    5. Sinestro’s Shadow

    We know Ulrich Thomsen is in the mix as Sinestro, but will he be a friend or foe yet? Look for any purple-tinted shadows or a mention of the Yellow spectrum. If he’s still a Green Lantern in this teaser, it sets up a massive fall from grace arc for later in the series.

  • Brightest Day is Finally Here as First ‘LANTERNS’ Teaser Set to Drop Tomorrow

    Brightest Day is Finally Here as First ‘LANTERNS’ Teaser Set to Drop Tomorrow

    It’s been a long, winding road through the emotional spectrum to get here. From the early days of the Greg Berlanti-produced space opera that never was, to the creative pivot that landed the project in the hands of Tom King, Chris Mundy, and Damon Lindelof, the wait for a live-action Green Lantern has felt like an eternity. But according to a new teaser for the teaser, the first look at the DCU’s Lanterns officially arrives tomorrow.

    DC Studios has taken wildly different approach than expected to its first Green Lantern project. This isn’t a CG-heavy trek across the stars; it’s a True Detective-style procedural set right here on Earth. The series is expected to follow intergalactic legend Hal Jordan and the new recruit John Stewart as they investigate a “terrestrial mystery” that has massive implications for the broader DCU Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.

    James Gunn and Peter Safran have taken their time with this one. They scrapped the previous iteration to ensure the Lanterns felt like an essential pillar of the new universe rather than a side project. If tomorrow’s teaser shows us that “Ancient Evil” they’ve been hinting at—the one that connects to the center of the DCU’s overarching narrative—then the hype for the 2026 release is going to hit an all-time high.

    Our show is in a lot of ways about replacement—when should someone step aside and when is it time for the next person to take the reins? That push and pull between those two characters is really important.

    -Chris Mundy

    Previously, Mundy revealed that Lanterns would be “as much of a buddy cop show as a superhero show.” If the “buddy-cop” dynamic is the engine of this show, tomorrow’s footage needs to nail the tone immediately. And they might want to explain why that ring is framed in gold because that could really pose an issue…

  • ‘Lanterns’ Star, Showrunner Tease John Stewart’s Discordant Dynamic with Hal Jordan

    ‘Lanterns’ Star, Showrunner Tease John Stewart’s Discordant Dynamic with Hal Jordan

    DC Studios co-chair James Gunn has big plans for the Green Lantern Corps; however, with the potential sale of Warner Bros. Discovery creating uncertainty around the future of the new DCU, it remains to be seen how much of those plans will come to fruition. Those concerns don’t look to be halting the release of the HBO Max streaming series Lanterns, set to debut in 2026.

    With Rebel Ridge breakout star Aaron Pierre and Primetime Emmy Award-winning actor Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights) cast as John Stewart and Hal Jordan, respectively, Lanterns has all the cache of an HBO Prestige series. Created by  an all-star team of writers led by Ozark‘s Chris Mundy, DC Comics’ ace Tom King and TV icon Damon Lindelof, the series is meant to play a key role in the larger, shared narrative of the DCU…should it get to play out. But even if it doesn’t, it sounds as though the series will serve as a solid standalone story.

    John Stewart and Hal Jordan are two of DC’s most compelling characters, and Lanterns brings them to life in an original detective story that is a foundational part of the unified DCU…

    -James Gunn

    In a wide-ranging interview with Men’s Health, Pierre and Mundy set the stage for the series, which the latter calls “as much of a buddy cop show as a superhero show.”

    From the sounds of it, Lanterns will see Pierre‘s Stewart, who the actor says “radiates strength and fortitude,” being prepped as a replacement for Hal Jordan which, as one might expect, will cause some friction between the two.

    “Our show is in a lot of ways about replacement—when should someone step aside and when is it time for the next person to take the reins? That push and pull between those two characters is really important,” Mundy explained.

    We have a few other Lanterns peppered in there but this is really a terrestrial based TV show which is almost like True Detective with a couple of Green Lanterns who are space cops watching over Precinct Earth in it they discover a terrifying mystery that ties into our largest story of the DCU.

    -James Gunn

    Pierre describes Stewart as a man who has “That hunger to be the best version of yourself, which also holds you accountable when you’re not.” According to Mundy, that resolve will be challenged by what sounds like a pretty abrasive Jordan.

    “So much of the power that John has is by not taking the bait, understanding that you lose your power if you’re yelling and screaming,” said Mundy. “That’s what we’re trying to convey: He knows he belongs, so he doesn’t have to overcompensate. There’s a real balance there that’s just innately inside of Aaron. He’s big. He’s an intimidating presence just physically. But there’s a softness to him too. There’s a thoughtfulness. You can’t teach that.”

    Should Stewart’s story continue beyond Lanterns, it sounds as though he’ll come out of the streaming series truly tested by Jordan, making him more than worthy as his successor.

    Source: Men’s Health

  • One of DC’s Darkest Villains Looks Set to Take on Hal Jordan and John Stewart in ‘Lanterns’

    One of DC’s Darkest Villains Looks Set to Take on Hal Jordan and John Stewart in ‘Lanterns’

    Since he was cast, fans have been crafting theories about just which DC Comics villain Garret Dillahunt will be portraying in the DC Studios’ streaming series, Lanterns. Trade Reports identified the character as William Macon,”a self-righteous, conspiracy-minded man who masks his ruthless ambition behind a charming and calculated facade,” but fans weren’t buying it.

    One popular theory was that William Macon was actually William Hand, a character who has been antagonizing Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps since being introduced in 1964. And it looks like that theory may well be proven correct.

    In an Instagram story, Dillahunt shared a photo that has fans believing he will indeed be portraying Black Hand in the show.

    William Hand was a key antagonist in the Blackest Night storyline, where he served as the herald of Nekron, the embodiment of death.

    From the start, our driving force has been to deliver a layered drama – rooted in nuanced storytelling and rich world building – that balances tension and mystery with honest, authentic emotion. The goal is to create something that feels timeless and grounded without sacrificing the magic of the source material.

    –Lanterns showrunner Chris Mundy

    Hand’s powers are rooted in his obsession with death and his ability to manipulate it. He first appeared as a small-time crook with a device that could absorb energy from Green Lantern rings. His destiny changed when he was chosen as an agent of the Black Lantern Corps, a group of undead beings animated by the black power of death. As a Black Lantern, he can kill and reanimate the dead, turning them into subservient Black Lanterns. His primary weapon is a black power ring, which is fueled by the absence of emotion, life, and light.

    Characterized by his necrophilic tendencies and a morbid fascination with death, a villain like Hand falls in the Goldilocks zone for an HBO Max streaming series baddie. He’s often depicted as mentally unstable and obsessive, with his sanity deteriorating as his connection to the black power ring grows stronger. His actions are driven by a deep-seated desire to see the universe brought to a state of complete lifelessness,

    With fans looking for DC Studios to create some sort of adaptation of Blackest Night, introducing a villain like Hand alongside Ulrich Thomsen‘s Sinestro and Paul Ben-Victor‘s Antaan, when many believe to be Atrocitus (also seen in the picture shared by Dillahunt) could be an indication that some bits of that story may make their way into Lanterns.

  • Nathan Fillion Has Joined the Cast of ‘Lanterns’

    Nathan Fillion Has Joined the Cast of ‘Lanterns’

    Nathan Fillion has officially joined the cast of HBO’s Lanterns. The actor, who is set to portray Guy Gardner in this Summer’s Superman, will reprise his role in the HBO series. The news was reported on Monday afternoon, with Deadline suggesting the actor has, perhaps unsurprisingly, long been attached to the project for some time. Fillion is no stranger to Gardner, having voiced the character in numerous animated projects for DC, including Green Lantern: Emerald Knight and Reign of Superman.

    HBO’s Lanterns series, which is inspired by DC Comics’ characters, focuses on Hal Jordan and John Stewart, two intergalactic cops who ultimately find themselves drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland. Lanterns will consist of eight-episodes, and hails from Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof and comics writer, Tom King. Mundy, who is the showrunner, co-wrote the series with Lindelof and King. All three will serve as executive producers on the project.

    RELATED: DC Studios’ Co-Chair’s ‘Lanterns’ Tease Has Reignited a Very Exciting Rumor

    The HBO series is currently in production and is set to be headlined by Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre, as Hal Jordan and John Stewart, respectively. It will also star Kelly MacDonald, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Jasmine Cephas Jones and Ulrich Thomsen. Episodes of Lanterns are confirmed to be directed by James Hawes, Stephen Williams, Geeta Vasant Patel, and Alik Sakharov. As of right now, the series does not yet have a release date announced.

    Source: Deadline

  • DC Studios’ Reportedly Preparing to Film “Insane” Sci-fi Series

    DC Studios’ Reportedly Preparing to Film “Insane” Sci-fi Series

    Even as James Gunn and Peter Safran set out to build the DCU, the DC Studios’ co-chairs have made it clear that creatives will have freedom to tell stories through different mediums, genres and aesthetics. And so while Gunn’s Superman looks to be a bright, pulpy take on the Man of Steel, it takes place in the same continuity as Mike Flannigan‘s body horror flick, Clayface, and James Mangold‘s Swamp Thing, described as a “simple gothic horror movie.”

    The idea is, of course, in line with the long publishing history of DC Comics and should have a similar impact at DC Studios in that it will allow for original ideas to evolve into (hopefully) great superhero stories. One of the earliest test cases for the premise may well be Lanterns, a streaming series that continues to sound a lot like an HBO prestige series. And if one cast member is to be believed, fans may not quite be ready for what DC Studios is about to do with Hal Jordan and John Stewart’s “terrestrial-based investigation story.”

    John Stewart and Hal Jordan are two of DC’s most compelling characters, and Lanterns brings them to life in an original detective story that is a foundational part of the unified DCU…

    -James Gunn
    In an interview with Collider, Poorna Jagannathan, who was cast in a supporting role in Lanterns, described it as “the best sci-fi script I’ve ever read.”

    “This is the first script that I’ve read that I understand why there’s an NDA,” explained Jagannathan. “Everything is so insane. It is the best writing that I have ever read.” Created by Ozark writer Chris Mundy, DC Comics ace Tom King and TV legend Damon Lindelof, Lanterns will focus on two of the corps‘ most well-known members, John Stewart and Hal Jordan who will be working as “supercops on Precinct Earth.”

    “I don’t know anything about sci-fi, and I don’t care, actually,” continued Jagannathan. “But this script makes sci-fi seem like my world. It makes it so accessible to me. I understand everything about this world even though I don’t understand this world.”

    The series, with an impressive cast led by Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre, had already begun to generate some buzz online and Jagannathan’s comments won’t do anything to temper expectations. With cameras set to roll this week, it may only be a matter of time before DC Studios gives fans a first look at Lanterns which is expected to stream in mid-2026.

    Source: Collider