Lanterns Review: James Gunn's DCU Enters Its Brightest Day With The Perfect Hal Jordan & John Stewart

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Aaron Pierre as John Stewart in Lanterns

Published Aug 14, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT

Felipe Rangel is a Movie and TV Journalist ScreenRant. He has been writing about movies and TV since 2021. Felipe joined ScreenRant in 2022, working across different teams, covering everything from breaking news to features to reviews and more.

Felipe is a writer who is an avid film and TV fan, with superhero movies and series being his biggest passion. He graduated from college in 2019, having studied Journalism. Before college, he spent a month studying at the Oxford English Centre. His superhero knowledge expands to the comics, with his undergraduate thesis being "Politics Reflected In American Comics."

Lanterns does right by the Green Lantern mythos and the two most popular human Green Lanterns in ways that will leave DC fans cheering at their screens. Yes, it is that good. This is a far cry from Ryan Reynolds' ill-received 2011 Green Lantern movie. The new HBO series carefully examines who Hal Jordan and John Stewart are at their core, complete with insightful explorations of their origins, to explain why their dynamic plays out the way that it does when the two heroes come together. It is bound to become the best live-action DC TV show for many.

Like a lot of Green Lantern fans, I also had a couple of common doubts heading into the show. Was DC right to go older with the Hal Jordan casting? Would there be enough energy constructs and cosmic action in Lanterns if the show was billed as a True Detective-like series? Well, the answer to both of those is a resounding yes. Lanterns' cast of characters was perfectly put together, and I believe the majority of viewers will come out of this show thinking that Kyle Chandler's Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre's John Stewart are the definitive versions of those characters.

Additionally, Lanterns tells a well-written story with quite a few twists and emotional moments as the two human Green Lanterns investigate an alien threat in the small town of Rushville. Based on the amazing trio of creators behind the new DC series, I had high hopes for Lanterns. Having watched all episodes of the HBO series save for the season finale, I can say that Chris Mundy (Ozark), Damon Lindelof (Watchmen), and Tom King (Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow) have truly built something special that perfectly walks the line between HBO crime thriller and DC superhero epic.

There Is Plenty Of Green In Lanterns

One of the biggest complaints about the first Lanterns trailer was that there was not enough green in the show. Well, buckle up, as the HBO series does not shy away from its characters' comic book origins. Lanterns is not a gritty superhero adaptation that is afraid of its roots. What it does is ground all the superhero elements in hard-hitting drama, which makes them feel even bigger. One of my favorite aspects of the show is how Lanterns presents the differences between John and Hal's constructs, of which there are many throughout season 1.

Expect plenty of elaborate action sequences and one of the most intense episodes of DC TV, with many energy constructs flying around, to date.

As an architect, John can really come up with some intricate constructs, while Hal is all about being direct. Lanterns is also visually stunning, and there is a particular episode that left my jaw on the floor. This is a show that can go from a familiar detective series set in a mysterious small town to a massive superhero spectacle at the flick of a switch. Expect plenty of elaborate action sequences and one of the most intense episodes of DC TV, with many energy constructs flying around, to date.

In terms of the series' scope, most of Lanterns' action is indeed set on Earth. So, for anyone expecting the show to magically follow Milly Alcock's Supergirl movie as a planet-hopping DC release, that is not happening. That said, other planets and aliens do play a role in the new HBO series. They carry their own mysteries that enhance the deaths Hal and John are looking into, expanding the scope of the series. Finally, also on the topic of green, while I was initially not a fan of Hal's Green Lantern suit in the trailers, it looked great in action.

Lanterns' Characters Inject So Much Energy Into The DCU

Hal Jordan uses his green lantern ring in Lanterns

After initially being mixed on the casting of the 60-year-old Chandler as Hal Jordan, I have to say that I had nothing to be worried about. Lanterns proves right from the start of episode 1 that Chandler was born to play Hal. It is honestly as if the character had stepped out of the comics onto the small screen, as the actor infuses Hal with the same daring, confident, and sarcastic attitude fans have come to love about him. He is never afraid to trust his gut, showcasing the willpower that makes him the most popular Green Lantern throughout Lanterns season 1.

The decision to make Hal older, thus a Green Lantern veteran who has seen it all, and pair him as a reluctant mentor to the younger, more idealistic John Stewart, played by Pierre, was inspired. Their dynamic is the beating heart of the DC series, with both characters being completely different. While Hal comes with a swagger and the desire to conquer every room he walks into, John shows a more controlled strength. He knows he is the best and has the training to back that up. John is also more respectful and likes to intently study what he is up against.

While Chandler's Hal and Pierre's John are definitely the stars of Lanterns, this is a show booming with interesting characters.

Hal Jordan and John Stewart perfectly complement one another in Lanterns, and this both generates hilarious clashes due to their different personalities, while also being exactly what they needed to get to the bottom of what is going on in Rushville. While Chandler's Hal and Pierre's John are definitely the stars of Lanterns, this is a show booming with interesting characters. No one should sleep on Kelly Macdonald as Kerry. Despite being a small-town sheriff, Kerry goes toe-to-toe with Hal as the Green Lanterns investigate what could be an alien-related threat on Earth. Macdonald makes Kerry a vibrant presence.

Sector 2814 · Ring Active How Well Do You Know Lanterns? “In brightest day, in blackest night...”

💍The RingPowered by will

🔦The Corps3,600 sectors

🌌OaThe Guardians

👮Earth BeatSector 2814

⚠Yellow
PerilThe fear entity

ACTIVATE RING →

Lanterns is one of the tentpole TV series launching James Gunn and Peter Safran’s rebooted DC Universe. On which streaming platform does it air?

ANetflix BHBO Max CDisney+ DApple TV+

✓ Correct! HBO Max — Warner Bros. Discovery’s flagship streamer and the natural home for DCU prestige TV alongside Peacemaker and The Penguin. Lanterns is positioned as the DCU’s high-end serialised drama counterpart to Gunn’s theatrical Superman relaunch, sharing canon with the films. Disney+ runs Marvel; Netflix and Apple are rival streamers.

✗ Ring malfunction! The answer is HBO Max. Netflix has had various superhero shows but not DCU. Disney+ is Marvel’s home. Apple TV+ doesn’t house DC. HBO Max is Warner Bros. Discovery’s streamer and the TV home of the Gunn/Safran DCU — Lanterns joins Peacemaker and upcoming DCU series there.

Unlike most Green Lantern adaptations, Lanterns pairs two Earth-based ring-bearers in a buddy-cop framework — a weathered veteran and a newer recruit partnered together on Sector 2814 duty. Which two Lanterns lead the show?

AHal Jordan & Guy Gardner BHal Jordan & John Stewart CJohn Stewart & Kyle Rayner DHal Jordan & Kyle Rayner

✓ Correct! Hal Jordan and John Stewart — two of the most beloved Earth-assigned Lanterns — are paired as the show’s central duo. Hal is the hot-shot test-pilot veteran, John the disciplined ex-Marine architect with a sharper sense of justice. The pairing draws heavily from the Geoff Johns comics era and lets the show explore two very different philosophies of what a Green Lantern should be.

✗ Ring malfunction! The answer is Hal Jordan and John Stewart. Guy Gardner (played by Nathan Fillion) is a separate DCU character who appears in the 2025 Superman film. Kyle Rayner is a beloved Lantern but not part of this show. The Lanterns duo is the Hal/John pairing — a pointedly contrasting veteran and recruit on Sector 2814 duty together.

The role of Hal Jordan — the weathered, test-pilot-turned-space-cop original Earth Lantern — went to a veteran actor best known as Coach Eric Taylor on Friday Night Lights and for leading Bloodline. Who plays Hal?

ARyan Reynolds (reprising) BKyle Chandler CNathan Fillion DChris Pine

✓ Correct! Kyle Chandler — Emmy winner for Friday Night Lights, star of Bloodline, and part of the Monsterverse (Godzilla: King of the Monsters) — plays an older, weathered Hal Jordan. James Gunn wanted a seasoned, grounded presence rather than a rookie. Ryan Reynolds played Hal in 2011’s widely-mocked Green Lantern film (a different continuity); Nathan Fillion plays Guy Gardner in the 2025 Superman film.

✗ Ring malfunction! The answer is Kyle Chandler. Ryan Reynolds’ Hal was the 2011 film (a separate, mostly-disowned continuity). Nathan Fillion plays Guy Gardner in the 2025 Superman film — not Hal. Chris Pine isn’t in the DCU. Chandler’s weathered, Friday-Night-Lights gravitas is exactly the mature Hal energy Gunn wanted for the show.

John Stewart — ex-Marine sniper, architect, and one of DC’s most iconic Black heroes — is played by a British actor who broke out in Barry Jenkins’ The Underground Railroad and Jeremy Saulnier’s Rebel Ridge. Who is he?

AAaron Pierre BWinston Duke CSterling K. Brown DJohn Boyega

✓ Correct! Aaron Pierre — the British actor who earned raves as Caesar in The Underground Railroad (2021) and carried Netflix’s Rebel Ridge (2024) with a performance frequently compared to early Denzel Washington. Gunn called his casting “a no-brainer.” Winston Duke, Sterling K. Brown and John Boyega are all great actors but not in the role.

✗ Ring malfunction! The answer is Aaron Pierre. Winston Duke is M’Baku in the Marvel universe. Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us, American Fiction) is Marvel-adjacent too. John Boyega famously played Finn in Star Wars. Pierre’s Rebel Ridge performance — playing a disciplined ex-Marine — is essentially his audition for John Stewart, and Gunn’s team cast him off it.

James Gunn has repeatedly pitched Lanterns as a grounded, small-town murder-mystery thriller — where the space-cop rings are secondary to a detective case on Earth. Which acclaimed HBO series is his go-to tonal comparison?

ATrue Detective BThe Wire CWestworld DWatchmen

✓ Correct! Gunn has explicitly called Lanterns his “True Detective in the DCU” — a slow-burn, atmospheric, character-driven case with superhero elements layered over a grounded murder mystery. Showrunner Chris Mundy actually did True Detective: Night Country duties, bringing that DNA directly. Watchmen (Damon Lindelof) was also cited, and Lindelof has consulting writer credits, but True Detective is the primary comp.

✗ Ring malfunction! The answer is True Detective. Gunn has named it as the explicit tonal blueprint — a slow-burn, character-driven murder mystery with superhero elements layered over it. Chris Mundy, the show’s runner, worked on True Detective: Night Country, bringing the DNA directly. Watchmen was a secondary comp (Damon Lindelof consults), but True Detective is the primary pitch.

When James Gunn and Peter Safran took over as DC Studios co-CEOs in 2022, they announced a rebooted slate of interconnected films and TV shows — with Lanterns among the launch titles. What is this first DCU phase officially called?

AChapter 1: Gods and Monsters BCrisis on Infinite Earths CThe Flashpoint Initiative DDark Knights Rising

✓ Correct! Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters — announced in January 2023 as the Gunn/Safran DCU’s opening slate. It includes Superman (2025), The Authority, Supergirl, The Brave and the Bold, Paradise Lost, Waller, Creature Commandos, and of course Lanterns. Crisis on Infinite Earths is a comics event; Flashpoint and Dark Knights are other DC storylines, not the chapter branding.

✗ Ring malfunction! The answer is Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters. Crisis on Infinite Earths is a famous DC comics crossover event (and Arrowverse crossover) but not a DCU chapter label. Flashpoint was referenced in The Flash (2023) from the now-defunct DCEU. The Gunn/Safran era officially named its launch phase Gods and Monsters — Superman 2025, Lanterns, and related titles.

Green Lanterns serve the Guardians of the Universe, an ancient race who created the Corps’ 3,600-sector peacekeeping force and charge the Lantern rings from a central Power Battery on their home planet. What is the Guardians’ homeworld called?

AKrypton BOa CThemyscira DApokolips

✓ Correct! Oa — the small blue-skinned Guardians’ home at the centre of the universe. It houses the Central Power Battery from which all Green Lantern rings draw their energy, and serves as the Corps’ academy and operational base. Krypton is Superman’s destroyed homeworld; Themyscira is Wonder Woman’s hidden Amazon island; Apokolips is Darkseid’s hellscape.

✗ Ring malfunction! The answer is Oa. Krypton is Superman’s homeworld. Themyscira is Paradise Island where Wonder Woman was raised. Apokolips is Darkseid’s grim world in the Fourth World mythos. Oa is specifically the Guardians of the Universe’s planet — home to the Central Power Battery that fuels every Green Lantern ring in all 3,600 sectors.

Every Green Lantern recites the same oath when charging their ring — a four-line rhyming incantation that’s become one of the most famous pieces of verse in comic-book history. How does it famously begin?

A“In the darkest hour, a light shall rise...” B“In brightest day, in blackest night...” C“By the power of Oa, I serve...” D“Ring of willpower, heed my call...”

✓ Correct! “In brightest day, in blackest night / No evil shall escape my sight / Let those who worship evil’s might / Beware my power — Green Lantern’s light!” The oath dates back to 1940’s All-American Comics #16, was refined through the Silver Age, and is considered one of DC’s most sacred bits of verse. Every canonical adaptation includes some version of it.

✗ Ring malfunction! The answer is “In brightest day, in blackest night...” The full oath: “No evil shall escape my sight / Let those who worship evil’s might / Beware my power — Green Lantern’s light!” It’s been canon since 1940 and remains one of comics’ most instantly recognisable pieces of verse — recited in every major Green Lantern adaptation.

REVEAL MY SCORE →

Ring Depowered · Report to Oa Your Corps Rank

💍

/ 8

Honor Guard veteran — or still in Corps training?

⤴ RECHARGE RING

As a fan of his from Fear the Walking Dead, I was quite interested in what Garret Dillahunt would bring to the role of William Macon. The result is one of the most mysterious and intense roles in the HBO series, with Dillahunt being able to easily switch between charming and terrifying. Poorna Jagannathan's Zoe comes as a warm presence that adds another layer to John's story. When it comes to Ulrich Thomsen's Sinestro, who I'm sure a lot of DC fans have been anxiously waiting to see, I believe reactions might be mixed.

Don't get me wrong, I think Thomsen's Sinestro is perfect, dropping the necessary bits of wisdom and just gently manipulating Hal even though he does not currently have the power in the DCU that we know Sinestro possesses in the comics. However, he is not a major presence in Lanterns, so those expecting to see a lot of Sinestro might be disappointed. Finally, it was a lot of fun to see Nathan Fillion back as Guy Gardner. His performance feels very much in line with the Guy seen in Superman and Peacemaker season 2, but fits in naturally in Lanterns.

DC's Lanterns Is Not Without A Couple Of Divisive Moments But Tells A Magnetic Story

Sadly, DC fans have grown used to controversies over the years. Recently, the DCU's Supergirl movie saw a few pop up, related to a specific needle drop and story choices. I believe HBO's Lanterns should once again offer one or two divisive choices that will be the source of a lot of discussions related to the show. That said, they do serve the story in major ways, with Mundy, Lindelof, and King crafting an emotional and action-packed ride that would not have been the same without those bold choices.

Finally, as was previously confirmed, Lanterns' action mainly takes place across two timelines, with the Rushville investigation being set in 2016, and a new mystery being unearthed in 2026, after the events of James Gunn's Superman movie. Those who might be concerned about confusing timelines similar to those from shows like The Witcher can be at ease, as Lanterns does a solid job making sure everything is explained well without relying on heavy exposition. All in all, Lanterns is the solo Green Lantern project that DC fans deserve, with exciting action, complex characters, and a gritty, magnetic story.

Lanterns debuts on HBO and HBO Max on Sunday, August 16, at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT, with the rest of its eight episodes airing weekly.