HBO Max has released a new teaser for DC Studios’ upcoming series Lanterns, starring Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights, Bloodline) and Aaron Pierre (Rebel Ridge, The Underground Railroad), according to Warner Bros. Discovery press release. News first broke on Instagram, alongside an announcement of the show’s premiere on August 16.
The teaser offers another look at Chandler’s Hal Jordan and Pierre’s John Stewart as the two Green Lanterns investigate a murder connected to a larger mystery unfolding on Earth. The footage continues to highlight the show’s grounded tone, which leans more toward detective storytelling than traditional superhero action.
According to the press release, Lanterns will premiere on HBO Max in August 2026 as part of DC Studios’ expanding television slate, led by James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad) and Peter Safran (Aquaman, Shazam!). The project is expected to serve as one of the major entries in the new DC Universe continuity moving forward.
The series also stars Kelly Macdonald (Boardwalk Empire, No Country for Old Men) and Nathan Fillion (The Rookie, Firefly). Chris Mundy (Ozark, True Detective) serves as showrunner alongside executive producers Damon Lindelof (Watchmen, Lost) and Tom King (Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, Batman comics).
Lanterns follows veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan and newer recruit John Stewart as they become involved in a dark mystery unfolding in the American heartland, as described by DC Studios. Early footage from the series has already drawn comparisons to crime dramas because of its grounded style and investigative approach.
mxdwn has previously covered conversations surrounding the creative direction of Lanterns. One earlier report focused on Damon Lindelof responding to backlash from Green Lantern writer Ron Marz regarding the series and its approach to adapting the DC characters. That coverage highlighted how some longtime fans questioned the grounded tone and detective-focused direction of the show, while Lindelof defended the project’s creative vision and its attempt to present the Green Lantern mythology differently.
The newly released teaser builds directly on that approach, emphasizing mystery and atmosphere rather than large-scale cosmic action. The footage also gives audiences another look at the dynamic between Hal Jordan and John Stewart as the series continues moving closer to release.