As has too often been the case with DC, the future of the universe hinges on the success of the current project. HBO’s Lanterns is in the regrettable position of having a lot to prove, not just to diehard DC fans but also to casual audiences whose investment has begun to lapse following James Gunn’s Superman (2025). Created by Chris Mundy (True Detective, Ozark), Damon Lindelof, of Lost, The Leftovers, and Watchmen fame, and Eisner Award winner and comic writer Tom King, Lanterns boasts a powerhouse trio of creatives to be sure. However, does this creative team have what it takes to propel the DCU back into the public’s good graces after the recent commercial failure of Supergirl?
Don’t Call It a Comeback
While James Gunn is an executive producer, and there are elements that neatly tie Lanterns into the larger narrative of his DCU, it is the first project since this franchise started where his lack of involvement is noticeable. It can’t be stressed enough how refreshing that feels. Lanterns is humorous at times, with Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan often providing sarcastic witticisms that break the tension. However, the HBO original series has a distinctly serious tone that feels both grounded and fresh for this universe. There are surely fans who take offense at a Green Lantern show, of all things, being grounded. Although that skepticism is justified, Lanterns manages to prove the naysayers wrong with its clear True Detective inspirations.
Courtesy of HBO
The creative team at hand has plenty of experience writing shows and comics that portray the fantastical through a realistic lens. Of course, the most recent example is HBO’s Watchmen, a series that continued Alan Moore’s opus and was set in a world distinctly devoid of superheroes. Lanterns has a similar aesthetic, but with cosmic elements at play. The ring, the Guardians, different aliens, and other worlds do make on-screen appearances throughout this first season. It’s very restrained in this regard, though not in a way that feels ashamed of the source material. After all, it is mainly focusing on a low-stakes story with Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre’s Jon Stewart.
John Stewart, Take the Wheel
When Aaron Pierre, best known for Rebel Ridge (2024), Mufasa: The Lion King (2024), and Syfy’s Krypton, was cast in the role of John Stewart, there was a wave of discourse online around a light-skinned actor being hired to play a character who has historically always had a darker complexion. Indeed, the casting did seem in line with Hollywood’s frustrating history of colorism and disregard for darker-skinned Black actors. When starting Lanterns, I hoped the potentially problematic nature of Pierre’s casting would disappear, but it was instead exacerbated.
Courtesy of HBO
This is not a direct indictment on the plot itself or Pierre as an actor. It’s actually the diametrical opposite — John Stewart’s backstory, development, and central arc are all incredibly well realized in HBO’s Lanterns. One flashback episode in particular explains his origins, family life, what it means to grow up Black and afraid in America, and the willpower it takes to overcome that fear. Writer Vanessa Baden Kelly (Animal Kingdom, The Sex Lives of College Girls) does a phenomenal job fleshing out Stewart’s life. Unfortunately, it becomes apparent that casting an actor closer to Stewart’s comic appearance would have made the material resonate even more.
Despite this misstep, or perhaps in spite of it, the core themes surrounding John Stewart still shine through. Aaron Pierre does a great job of bringing an honorable, sturdy quality to the character. As the season goes on, Pierre breathes Stewart to life in a way many fans will be satisfied with, justifiable reservations aside.
A Mystery of Intergalactic Proportions
Damon Lindelof, Tom King, and Chris Mundy shape a story with DNA in common with HBO’s Watchmen and ABC’s Lost. Yes, as stated earlier, Lanterns‘ overarching narrative is a grounded mystery with cosmic implications. Set in Rushville, Nebraska, Hal Jordan brings along his trainee, John Stewart, as he begins investigating strange happenings in this nondescript Midwestern town. Jordan proves to be a keen detective, his years of superhero experience showing through in every interaction.
Friday Night Lights star Kyle Chandler isn’t given as much to chew on as Pierre, but he does an admirable job helping sketch out the character of Hal Jordan. An old dog with old tricks, Jordan has been through a lot. His many years of service in the Green Lantern Corps included him arresting his former mentor and best friend Sinestro (Ulrich Thomsen), which has evidently made him weary and cynical. As such, his rough exterior, disregard for authority besides his own, and often flippant attitude make for an excellent pairing with John Stewart’s “straight man” demeanor.
As for the central mystery itself, it’s compelling and sure to keep viewers guessing until its resolution. Sheriff Kerry (Kelly Macdonald) plays an important part as not only Hal Jordan’s love interest, but also as an intrepid detective in her own right. Together, all three characters are key to unraveling the town’s dark secrets, least of all being what exactly Rushville has to do with Manhunters.
Where to Next?
James Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow, apparently. While that film does sound promising, it seems double as crowded as Superman. HBO’s Lanterns is just what the DCU has been missing: a focused, serious story told by writers who are clearly familiar with and fond of the source material. For all the positives, you still can’t help but wonder how much stronger the story would have been, how much more the writers would have been able to explore space, and the greater impact it would have had if DC Studios decided to make the series into a feature-length film instead.
Lanterns Season 1 does work well as it stands; it’s clearly operating with far less of a budget than Superman or Supergirl. But dare I say that Hal and John were much more deserving of being on the big screen than that latter film? With DC Studios canceling and delaying projects left and right, it’s hard to believe there will be a second season of Lanterns, and it certainly deserves one. DC’s Lanterns accomplishes what it set out to do by telling a meaningful, worthwhile story. Here’s hoping that Gunn is true to his word going forward and lets other creatives play in the DC sandbox interference-free, so fans can get more projects just as strong as this one.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
‘Lanterns’ premieres August 16 on HBO and HBO Max!
Created by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, & Tom King.
Based on characters from DC Comics.
Showrunner: Chris Mundy.
Season 1 Writers: Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, Tom King, Vanessa Baden Kelly, Justin Britt-Gibson, & Breannah Gibson.
Executive Producers: James Gunn, Peter Safran, Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, Tom King, Ron Schmidt, & James Hawes.
Main Cast: Kyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre, Kelly Macdonald, Nathan Fillion, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Ulrich Thomsen, Nicole Ari Parker, Jason Ritter, Sherman Augustus, Paul Ben-Victor, & Laura Linney.
Composer: Stephanie Economou.
Production Companies: DC Studios & Warner Bros. Television.
Network: HBO & HBO Max.
Episode Count: 8 (Season One).
