Published Mar 17, 2026, 10:02 PM EDT
Since 2019, Kevin Erdmann has been one of Screen Rant's Senior Staff Writers, covering all kinds of Superhero and Star Wars media with Easter egg breakdowns, theory pieces, breaking news, and more. A huge Star Wars & MCU fan, Kevin also loves Batman (because he's Batman), but could talk for hours about why Nightwing is DC's greatest hero.
With 8 years of total experience covering entertainment and pop culture, Kevin has gotten the chance to interview top creatives and talent, and has also attended major media events like Disney's D23 convention.
Majoring in Cinema Studies with a minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies from the UofO, Kevin lives in Oregon with his wonderful wife, adorable dog, and sinister cat who is no doubt currently plotting his demise.
While racing dramas like Brad Pitt's F1: The Movie and major superhero projects may seem like two very different genres, the core character relationship at the heart of Apple’s high-octane blockbuster actually serves as an exciting mirror to the superhero duo we'll soon see in the DCU's upcoming Lanterns series.
Set to begin streaming in August, Lanterns will see Kyle Chandler's Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre's John Stewart joining forces for the first time in live-action, investigating a murder in the American heartland. Based on Lanterns' first trailer, it really does appear as though the relationship between these live-action Green Lanterns will carry more than one parallel to the partnership seen in F1.
Brad Pitt's F1 Was One of 2025's Best Movies
Directed by Joseph Kosinski, F1 delivered far more than just impressive racing, and brilliant camera work. The film’s greatest strength arguably came from the volatile partnership between Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) and Joshua Pearce (played by Damson Idris).
In the epic 2025 blockbuster, Pitt's Sonny plays a veteran driver who gets dragged back into the sport long after his prime, joining Team APXGP. He’s experienced, cynical, and comfortable bending the rules to gain an edge. Years of racing have hardened him, leaving behind a racer who trusts his unorthodox instincts over protocol.
We also have Idris' Joshua Pearce, a younger rookie who believes his raw talent and skill make up for his limited experience. Rather than seeing Hayes as a mentor, Pearce initially believes himself to be the superior driver who doesn't need any guidance from his new teammate.
Arguing over tactics and each other’s judgment, Hayes and Pearce repeatedly push one another into uncomfortable territory, though they ultimately manage to find common ground by F1's ending, relying on each other's strengths to become an incredibly capable duo. Keeping that in mind, it looks as though we're about to see a very similar relationship and dynamic in the DCU.
How The DCU's Lanterns Will Parallel With Apple's F1
Based on that first trailer, the upcoming DCU Lanterns series looks poised to replicate a remarkably similar character formula.
At its center we were shown the beginning of the tense partnership between veteran Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and rookie John Stewart (Aaron Pierre). However, the parallels don't stop there.
Like Pitt’s Sonny Hayes, Hal Jordan represents the seasoned veteran who's incredibly confident and more reckless, willing to bend the rules and is driven solely by his own self-instinct. It's a solid characterization lifted straight from the Hal Jordan of the original DC Comics.
John Stewart, meanwhile, fits the more disciplined newcomer who believes he can do it all on his own (not unlike Joshua Pearce). Considering how well F1 was received at the box office last year, the leads of Lanterns having a similar relationship and dynamic bodes very well for the new DCU series.
After all, that kind of tension naturally creates golden conflict-driven character growth, meaning it's going to be very exciting to see Hal and John similarly grow and evolve from rivals to partners as the new DC show progresses, likely beginning as a more grounded series before the cosmic stakes are inevitably raised.
While it's a solid and recent parallel, there are, of course, plenty of examples beyond F1 that prove audiences connect deeply with partnerships forged under significant pressure. Watching two capable people learn how to function as a capable unit will always be satisfying, especially when both bring radically different strengths to the table.
While there may be current controversies about other elements in the new Lanterns trailer, like the lack of green, I'm not worried in the slightest about the two leads. It's already been proven that their relationship will be all kinds of exciting.
Lanterns is expected to premiere in August on HBO Max from DC Studios.
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Lanterns
Release Date August, 2026
Network HBO
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Aaron Pierre
John Stewart
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Kelly Macdonald
Sheriff Kerry
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English (US) ·