Created by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King.
Lanterns premiered on August 16, 2026.
Distributed by Warner Bros. Television, in association with DC Studios and HBO.
Lanterns TV Series Review
Lanterns is a superhero series that follows Hal Jordan and John Stewart as they investigate a strange murder in Nebraska.
The show mixes action, mystery, science fiction, and crime.
Kyle Chandler gives a strong performance as the experienced Hal, while Aaron Pierre plays John as a young and determined Lantern.
Their relationship is one of the best parts of the series.
The story also takes time to introduce the characters and build the mystery instead of using action in every scene.
The small town setting makes the series feel different from other superhero shows.
Overall, Lanterns is an enjoyable choice for DC and mystery fans.
CR Rating: 9/10.
Lanterns Actors
Aaron Pierre as John Stewart
DOB: June 7, 1994.
Bio: British actor from London, England, who developed an interest in performing while growing up.
He trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and built his early career across theatre and television.
Pierre has earned attention for bringing a quiet intensity and emotional depth to his characters.
Role: John Stewart is a former U.S. Marine who is recruited into the Green Lantern Corps and trained by veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan.
Disciplined, intelligent, physically capable, and highly observant, John approaches dangerous situations with the practical mindset developed during his military service.
Episodes: 9.
Interesting Facts: Pierre previously appeared in the DC-related series Krypton.
He was also considered for a major Marvel role before eventually being chosen as John Stewart.
Notable Works: The Underground Railroad, Krypton, Rebel Ridge, Mufasa: The Lion King
Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan
DOB: September 17, 1965.
Bio: Emmy-winning American actor born in Buffalo, New York.
He began acting professionally in the 1980s and gradually established himself as a respected television and film performer.
Chandler is particularly known for his ability to play authoritative but emotionally complicated characters.
Role: Hal Jordan is a veteran Green Lantern who serves as John Stewart’s mentor.
The series presents Hal as an experienced and highly capable Lantern who has spent years dealing with threats connected to the Green Lantern Corps.
Episodes: 8.
Interesting Facts: Chandler’s portrayal of Hal was influenced by the rugged, understated qualities of real-life test pilot Chuck Yeager.
The show’s creators wanted him to bring dry humor and an older, experienced presence to the character.
Notable Works: Friday Night Lights, Bloodline, Early Edition, Super 8, Argo
Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner
DOB: March 27, 1971.
Bio: Canadian-American actor and producer born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
He grew up as the son of two English teachers and became involved in theatre and improvisational performance before moving to New York in the 1990s to pursue acting professionally.
Role: Guy Gardner is an outspoken and abrasive Green Lantern who brings a very different personality to the Corps.
He is confident, competitive and often difficult to deal with, but underneath his arrogance is a capable Lantern who takes his responsibilities seriously.
Episodes: 8.
Interesting Facts: Fillion studied at Concordia University College of Alberta and the University of Alberta and was active in Edmonton’s improv-theatre community before becoming a professional actor.
Notable Works: Firefly, Castle, The Rookie, Serenity
Laura Linney as Guardian of the Universe
DOB: February 5, 1964.
Bio: American actress born in New York City.
She is the daughter of playwright Romulus Linney and grew up with strong connections to the arts.
Linney studied at Brown University before continuing her acting education at the Juilliard School and the Moscow Art Theatre School.
Role: Linney plays a mysterious, shapeshifting Guardian of the Universe who takes on a human appearance while on Earth.
The character becomes connected to John Stewart and helps guide the inexperienced Green Lantern recruit as he begins to understand his new responsibilities and the larger cosmic world surrounding the Corps.
Episodes: 8.
Interesting Facts: Linney received formal acting training in both the United States and Russia, studying at Juilliard and the Moscow Art Theatre School.
Notable Works: Ozark, The Big C, You Can Count on Me, The Truman Show
Kelly Macdonald as Sheriff Kerry
DOB: February 23, 1976.
Bio: Scottish actress born in Glasgow.
She grew up in the Glasgow area and became interested in acting through amateur theatre.
Before becoming a professional actress, she was working as a barmaid when she noticed an open casting call that changed the direction of her life.
Role: Sheriff Kerry is the local law-enforcement officer in the Nebraska community where Hal Jordan and John Stewart investigate a mysterious murder.
She is fiercely protective of her town and family and is initially suspicious of the two Green Lanterns arriving in her community.
Episodes: 8.
Interesting Facts: Macdonald was working as a barmaid when she answered the casting call for Trainspotting, which launched her professional acting career.
Notable Works: Trainspotting, Boardwalk Empire, Line of Duty, Brave
Garret Dillahunt as William Macon
DOB: November 24, 1964.
Bio: American actor born in Castro Valley, California.
He studied journalism at the University of Washington before earning an MFA from New York University’s Graduate Acting Program.
He began his professional career in theatre, performing on Broadway.
Role: William Macon is a modern cowboy whose friendly exterior hides a self-righteous and conspiracy-minded personality.
He is deeply connected to the Nebraska community and becomes an important figure as Hal and John investigate the mystery.
Episodes: 8.
Interesting Facts: Dillahunt has an MFA in acting and performed extensively in theatre before becoming a regular television performer.
Notable Works: Deadwood, Raising Hope, Justified, Fear the Walking Dead
Jason Ritter as Billy Macon
DOB: February 17, 1980.
Bio: American actor born in Los Angeles, California.
He comes from a well-known acting family as the son of John Ritter and Nancy Morgan.
He attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and developed a career that has covered comedy, drama, animation and theatre.
Role: Billy Macon is Sheriff Kerry’s husband and William Macon’s son.
He is caught between his loyalty to his family and the increasingly complicated mystery unfolding in their Nebraska community.
Episodes: 8.
Interesting Facts: Ritter is part of one of Hollywood’s best-known acting families.
His father, John Ritter, was also a celebrated television actor.
Notable Works: Parenthood, A Million Little Things, Gravity Falls, Matlock
Poorna Jagannathan as Zoe
DOB: December 22, 1972.
Bio: American actress and producer born in Tunis, Tunisia.
She spent parts of her childhood in several countries, including India, Pakistan, Ireland, Brazil, and Argentina, before her family settled in the United States.
Role: Zoe is an intelligent, composed, and calculating woman who operates within the powerful world surrounding the Macon family.
She is confident and perceptive, allowing her to hold her own among the strong personalities involved in the story.
Episodes: 8.
Interesting Facts: Jagannathan produced and performed in the acclaimed stage production Nirbhaya, which addressed sexual violence and received an Amnesty International Award.
Notable Works: Never Have I Ever, The Night Of, The Out-Laws, Gypsy
Nicole Ari Parker as Bernadette Stewart
DOB: October 7, 1970.
Bio: American actress and producer who grew up in Baltimore, Maryland.
She attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and developed an early interest in theatre before moving into screen acting.
Role: Bernadette Stewart is John Stewart’s mother and an important part of the character’s family story.
Her presence gives viewers a deeper understanding of John’s upbringing, family relationships, and the experiences that helped shape him before becoming a Green Lantern.
Episodes: 8.
Interesting Facts: Parker has worked both in front of and behind the camera as an actress and producer.
Notable Works: Soul Food, Boogie Nights, Brown Sugar, Empire
Ulrich Thomsen as Sinestro
DOB: December 6, 1963.
Bio: Danish actor and filmmaker born in Odense, Denmark.
He graduated from the Danish National School of Theatre in Copenhagen in 1993 and began his professional career in Danish theatre before moving into film and television.
Role: Sinestro is a former Green Lantern who has a long and complicated history with Hal Jordan.
Once a respected member of the Green Lantern Corps and an important figure in Hal’s life, Sinestro has since become separated from the Corps and follows his own methods and beliefs.
Episodes: 8.
Interesting Facts: Before becoming a professional actor, Thomsen reportedly spent time in the United States working as a pizza delivery driver.
Notable Works: The Celebration, Banshee, Counterpart, The Blacklist
J. Alphonse Nicholson as John Stewart Sr. / Young John Stewart Sr.
DOB: July 6, 1990.
Bio: American actor and percussionist from Greensboro, North Carolina.
He began developing his career through theatre before gaining wider recognition through film and television.
Role: Nicholson plays the younger version of John Stewart’s father.
His scenes are important because Lanterns uses different timelines to reveal the Stewart family’s history.
Episodes: 8.
Interesting Facts: Nicholson is also a percussionist and has an extensive theatre background in addition to his screen career.
Notable Works: P-Valley, They Cloned Tyrone, Just Mercy, Luke Cage.
Sherman Augustus as John Stewart Sr.
DOB: January 10, 1959.
Bio: American actor whose career spans film and television, with extensive experience in action, science fiction, fantasy, and drama.
He has built a reputation for portraying authoritative and physically imposing characters.
Role: Augustus portrays the older John Stewart Sr., John Stewart’s father.
His scenes help expand the Stewart family storyline and provide context for the experiences that shaped John before he became a Green Lantern.
Episodes: 8.
Interesting Facts: Augustus has appeared in several major genre productions, giving him extensive experience with stories involving science fiction, action and supernatural elements.
Notable Works: Westworld, Into the Badlands, Stranger Things, The Wright Turn.
More Actors
Michael Ocampo as Deputy Lopez
Cary Christopher as Young Noah Macon
Shea Pritchard as Noah Macon
Romeo Brown as Aaron Stewart
FAQ – Lanterns TV Series
What is Lanterns about?
Lanterns follows new Green Lantern recruit John Stewart and veteran Lantern Hal Jordan as they investigate a mysterious murder in the American heartland.
Is Lanterns part of the DC Universe?
Yes. The series is part of the new DC Universe created by DC Studios.
What genre is Lanterns?
The series combines superhero, science fiction, crime, mystery, action and drama elements.
How many episodes does Lanterns Season 1 have?
Season 1 has eight episodes, released weekly.
Where can I watch Lanterns?
You can watch Lanterns on HBO and HBO Max.
Conclusion
Lanterns offers a fresh and grounded take on the Green Lantern story.
With a strong cast, mystery, action, and interesting characters, the series gives viewers something different from typical superhero shows.