HBO Max has released the first teaser for Lanterns, the upcoming DC Studios live-action series starring Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights, Bloodline), Kelly MacDonald (Brave, Never Let Me Go), and Aaron Pierre (Rebel Ridge, Krypton). According to Warner Bros. Discovery’s press release, the preview offers an early glimpse of the show’s central partnership between veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan, played by Chandler, and newcomer John Stewart, played by Pierre.
According to the WBD press release, the series focuses on Hal Jordan and John Stewart, members of the Green Lantern Corps tasked with protecting their sector. They become entangled in a mystery unfolding in the American heartland, blending cosmic mythology with a grounded investigative narrative.
The teaser highlights the contrasting dynamic between veteran Lantern Hal Jordan and new recruit John Stewart, as Jordan guides Stewart through the responsibilities that come with wielding the Green Lantern ring. Behind the scenes, the project is led by showrunner Chris Mundy (True Detective: Night Country, Ozark), with writing contributions from Damon Lindelof (Watchmen, Lost) and comic writer Tom King (Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, Mister Miracle).
According to the press release, the series is being developed as part of DC Studios’ broader storytelling initiative under James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad) and Peter Safran (Aquaman, The Conjuring). Lanterns will play a key role in the first chapter of the new DC Universe, titled Gods and Monsters.
However, the Lanterns teaser release arrives earlier than anticipated, after Gunn’s earlier announcement that it would have been released on March fifth, 2026, rather than March fourth. The reasoning behind this early release stems from the trailer apparently being leaked online before its release date.
mxdwn has previously tracked the project’s development. Earlier coverage examined HBO’s official series order for Lanterns, detailing how the show would adapt DC Comics characters and become one of the first television entries in the new DC Universe. Additional reporting explored comments from DC Studios co-head James Gunn on the show’s tone, noting that the series would lean into a darker, more grounded storytelling style compared with earlier Green Lantern adaptations.
Together, those developments highlight the growing anticipation surrounding Lanterns as DC Studios continues building its interconnected slate. With its first teaser now released, the series signals HBO Max’s commitment to bringing one of DC’s most recognizable superhero teams to television through a character-focused and mystery-driven approach.