After small teases and moments in various promos over the last year, HBO and DC Studios have finally released a full first trailer for the Lanterns series coming this August to HBO Max. Check out the trailer for the grounded True Detective-inspired Green Lantern series below.
While the Green Lanterns are known for keeping the peace galaxy-wide, this series from creators Chris Mundy (Ozark, True Detective), Damon Lindelof (Lost, The Leftovers, Watchmen), and Tom King (The Vision, Batman, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow) looks to explore two of Earth’s lanterns on their home planet. Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights, Godzilla: King of the Monsters) portrays Hal Jordan as a grizzled, cynical vet of the Green Lantern Corps, while Aaron Pierre (Rebel Ridge, Krypton, Mufasa: The Lion King) plays the rookie John Stewart. While there is certainly a mentor/student relationship at play, the two of them will clearly take some time to warm to each other.
In addition to the science fiction buddy cop-vibes that one would expect to see in a Green Lantern show, the trailer for Lanterns also delivers on the grounded, Earth-bound, promise that was made when Lanterns was first announced to be inspired by HBO’s legendary series, True Detective. Jordan and Stewart will be sent to investigate a murder in a small-town in Nebraska, butting heads with local police and modern-day cowboys.
Aaron Pierre (left) and Kyle Chandler (right) as John Stewart and Hal Jordan, respectively, in HBO’s Lanterns
But for those Green Lantern fans who want to see the Power Ring in action, don’t worry, as the trailer teases several moments of super powered action. And in addition, several actors have been cast in roles that imply the story won’t be entirely sequestered to the comings-and-goings of small-town America. Nathan Fillion will be reprising his Superman and Peacemaker role as the Green Lantern Guy Gardner; Danish actor Ulrich Thomsen has been cast as Sinestro, a former member of the Green Lanterns Corp that has gone rogue; Paul Ben-Victor (The Wire, True Detective) will portray Antaan, an extraterrestrial who is devoted to finding the truth; and Ch’p, an extraterrestrial Green Lantern who looks like a squirrel, was also referenced in the trailer, although no word yet if he will actually appear.
Lanterns will premiere on HBO Max in August 2026, although an exact date has yet to be announced. The series is one of three major live-action DC Studios releases in 2026, alongside the films Supergirl (June 26th) and Clayface (October 23rd).
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