Okay superhero fans get ready for a Green Lantern show unlike anything you have seen before. Forget the cosmic battles and intergalactic threats for a minute because HBO's new DCU series Lanterns is taking things down to Earth like seriously down to Earth. Think less epic space adventure and more gritty crime drama because this show is being described as straight-up True Detective in the DC Universe. Intrigued? You should be.
Green Lanterns Meet Gritty Crime Drama: HBO Series Promises a Grounded Take on Space Cops
Imagine the Green Lantern Corps not as just space protectors but as intergalactic police officers. That's the vibe HBO's Lanterns is going for. This series is diving into the core concept of Green Lanterns being cosmic cops but rooting it in a super grounded TV genre: the prestige pulp detective show. We're talking serious HBO drama here.
Leading the charge is writer and showrunner Chris Mundy who knows a thing or two about crime dramas. He was a big part of Ozark and worked on a season of True Detective . So yeah he gets gritty. DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran tapped Mundy to bring this unique vision to life. Mundy himself said he was drawn to the challenge of making something really grounded within this huge mythology.
Think True Detective meets another critically acclaimed series Slow Horses and you are getting closer to the tone of Lanterns. James Hawes who directed season one of Slow Horses is even directing the first two episodes of Lanterns to really nail that vibe. This is definitely not going to be like that somewhat goofy Green Lantern movie from way back when. This is prestige TV Green Lantern style.
Meet Your New Lanterns: Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre Suit Up (Well Sort Of)
Who is going to be our detective Lantern duo? We have got Kyle Chandler playing Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart. Chandler is playing a seasoned almost-ready-to-retire Hal Jordan while Pierre is the new trainee John Stewart who's stepping into his shoes. They are partners investigating a murder case. But not in space. In Nebraska. Yep Nebraska. This murder is going to lead them down a rabbit hole of mysteries and personal challenges.
James Gunn himself shared a first look image and it is telling. Chandler and Pierre are not in full Green Lantern gear. They are in regular clothes looking like detectives on a case. Hal Jordan is rocking his power ring but John Stewart interestingly does not seem to have one yet. Hmmmm what is up with that? Could it be part of the mystery? Maybe John is hesitant or maybe Hal is training him in a very unconventional way. It is definitely something to think about.
Casting wise it sounds like they nailed it. Mundy said they envisioned Hal Jordan as kind of like Chuck Yeager from The Right Stuff and Kyle Chandler apparently has that vibe in spades. He is funny in a dry way which is important for Hal's character and Mundy thinks Chandler will make everyone look good. For John Stewart they needed someone who could be both a serious Marine and an artist and Aaron Pierre fits the bill. He's a serious actor but also looks like he could be an action star. The chemistry between Chandler and Pierre is apparently already fantastic and sets a great tone for the show.
From Comics to Screen: Lanterns Grounded in DC Lore But For New Viewers Too
Even though Lanterns is going for a grounded realistic feel it is still deeply rooted in Green Lantern comic lore. Don't worry comic fans they are not throwing out everything you love. We will see power rings constructs and other aspects of the Green Lantern mythology. Other characters and elements from the comics will pop up or get name-dropped to keep it connected.
But the showrunners also want to make it accessible for people who have never picked up a Green Lantern comic in their lives. Mundy says it is designed to work for both hardcore fans and newcomers. Season one is planned to be its own complete story not just a piece of a larger puzzle. Of course if it does well they are hoping for many seasons to come. For now though Lanterns is set in its own creative world separate from other DCU movies and shows. It is doing its own thing for season one at least.
Behind the Scenes Super Team: Comic Book Legends and TV Drama Masters Unite
The creative team behind Lanterns is pretty impressive. Tom King a big name in comics known for Vision and Mister Miracle came up with the initial idea for the show. Damon Lindelof co-creator of shows like Lost and Watchmen is also on board. Lindelof said he loved Tom King’s comics and Ozark so joining the team was an easy yes. He is especially interested in Green Lantern's imaginative powers and the dynamic between the Green Lantern Corps members.
Other directors joining James Hawes include Stephen Williams (Watchmen) Geeta Vasant Patel (House of the Dragon) and Alik Sakharov (Ozark). The supporting cast is also stacked with talent like Kelly Macdonald Garrett Dillahunt Poorna Jagannathan and Ulrich Thomsen who is playing Sinestro. Filming has already begun and Mundy is excited about what he is seeing. He says the scripts are done the directing is great and Chandler and Pierre are killing it. They are aiming for a big scope but also keeping it human and character-focused. Sounds like a winning combination.
Key Things to Know About HBO's Lanterns Series:
- Genre Bend: It's a Green Lantern show meets a gritty crime detective drama like True Detective.
- Starring Duo: Kyle Chandler as veteran Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as rookie John Stewart.
- Grounded Mystery: Season one focuses on an Earth-based murder mystery in Nebraska not a space opera (at least to start).
- Prestige TV Vibe: From the showrunner of Ozark and directors from Slow Horses and Watchmen. Expect serious drama.
- Comic Book Roots: Deeply inspired by Green Lantern lore but designed to be accessible to new viewers.
- Independent Story: Season one is planned as a self-contained story separate from other DCU projects (for now).
- Production Underway: Filming has begun so expect more news and maybe a release date in the future!