With a remix of Bruce Springsteen’s “State Trooper” as its soundtrack, the first teaser trailer for HBO’s Lanterns promises a grittier, more grounded look at the DC Comics universe than, say, James Gunn’s Superman. But there are still super-powered rings and flying dudes to be found in the upcoming new series, starring Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart, veteran and rookie members of the Green Lantern Corps who find themselves involved in a mystery.
The new trailer doesn’t shy away from the classic DC iconography of the Corps — the suit, the ring, and even a literal lantern all appear in the new trailer. But the focus is on the friction between Hal Jordan and John Stewart as mentor and mentee. According to the official description, “the series follows new recruit John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) and Lantern legend Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler), two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.” (Hence the True Detective vibes.)
Kelly Macdonald also stars, as local law enforcement with no patience for outsiders. The series was co-created by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King, with James Hawes, Stephen Williams, Geeta Vasant Patel, and Alik Sakharov all directing episodes for the first season. Lindelof, of course, became one of TV’s biggest producers after showrunning Lost, and received critical acclaim for his re-imagining of Watchmen as a limited series.
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Lanterns is set to premiere August 2026 on HBO, streaming on HBO Max. Check out the first trailer below.
