Lanterns writer Tom King couldn’t be happier with the cast DC Studios has assembled for the upcoming HBO drama series, which will be part of James Gunn’s DC Universe.
After being ordered to series by HBO in June 2024, casting for Lanterns finally got underway in October, with Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights) and Aaron Pierre (Rebel Ridge) joining the series as Green Lanterns Hal Jordan and John Stewart, respectively. Chandler’s Hal Jordan will be depicted as a “Lantern legend” within the DCU, while John Stewart will be one of the Green Lantern Corps’ newest recruits. The series will follow the two intergalactic cops, who are drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.
While speaking with ComicBookMovie.com to promote his new comic book series Black Canary: Best of the Best, King commented on the Lanterns cast, expressing his excitement for fans to see Chandler and Pierre in action as Hal and John. “I mean, I would say I’m over the moon, but that’s not far enough for a Lantern. I guess I’m over Oa? That’s pretty far,” said King. “You should see these two together. They have amazing chemistry, and I couldn’t be more excited. I’m not allowed to say anything except that I can say it’s awesome!”
King continued to praise the series leads, adding, “When you look at Kyle, you see someone who used to fly jetplanes and embodies Hal. When you look at Aaron, his heart, his soul, and his strength are so John Stewart. He’s so perfect. It’s going to be great.”
Who else is part of the Lanterns cast?
Joining Chandler and Pierre in Lanterns will be Kelly Macdonald (Boardwalk Empire) as Sheriff Kerry, a no-nonsense woman deeply devoted to her family and close-knit town; Garrett Dillahunt (Fear the Walking Dead) as William Macon, a modern cowboy who masks his ruthless ambition behind a charming and calculated facade; and Poorna Jagannathan (Never Have I Ever) as Zoe, who is described as “effortlessly confident and poised in any setting, even those where she stands out.”
Lanterns is scheduled to begin filming in January 2025, with the first two episodes directed by James Hawes. The series is expected to premiere on HBO in 2026, “around the same time” that Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow will be released in theaters.
