HBO has dropped the opening five minutes of its upcoming DC series “Lanterns” just days before the show’s official premiere. The footage gives viewers a detailed look at the backstories of both Green Lanterns – veteran Hal Jordan and new recruit John Stewart.
The network shared the clip online to build excitement for the series, which arrives this Sunday. The opening scene wastes no time establishing the connection between the two main characters and their shared history.
The Opening Scene Takes Viewers Back to 1996
The clip begins with a title card showing the year 1996. A young John Stewart is seen watching television late at night while another child warns him that his father is coming home. John ignores the warning and continues watching a news interview.
On the TV screen, a younger Hal Jordan appears in a prime-time interview. The show reveals that Hal has been serving as Green Lantern since 1986, meaning he had already held the role for a decade by 1996.
During the interview, Hal explains his origin story. He talks about being a former Air Force test pilot and shares the traumatic loss of his father at a young age. Hal states that every child’s worst fear is losing a parent, but once that happens, there is nothing left to fear.
Hal reveals that the Green Lantern Corps asked him only one question during his recruitment: “Are you afraid?” He answered no, which led to him becoming Earth’s first Green Lantern.
John Stewart’s Father Tests His Fear
The scene shifts to John Stewart’s home life. His father, John Stewart Sr., arrives home in military uniform and discovers his son watching television instead of sleeping.
The father takes young John outside and places an apple on top of the boy’s head. He pulls out his pistol and asks his son the same question Hal Jordan was asked: “Are you afraid?”
Young John replies, “No, sir,” and does not flinch as his father shoots the apple off his head. The boy shows no fear throughout the experience. His father then hugs him, showing a complex family dynamic that shaped John’s character.
This moment establishes that John Stewart grew up in a military household where fearlessness was taught through extreme methods. The show hints that this might not have been the first time his father tested him this way.
The Scene Jumps to 2016
The clip then moves forward 20 years to 2016. An adult John Stewart, played by Aaron Pierre, is seen boxing in a gym. As he walks outside, a car pulls up in front of him.
Inside the car is an older Hal Jordan, played by Kyle Chandler. Hal tells John that he is late. John gets into the car, and the clip ends there.
The footage shows that John Stewart grew up watching Hal Jordan as a hero on television. However, when they finally meet as adults, John does not seem excited to be in the presence of the man he once looked up to.
The Show’s Creative Team and Vision
“Lanterns” comes from an impressive creative team. Chris Mundy, known for his work on “Ozark,” serves as showrunner. He is joined by Damon Lindelof (“Lost,” “Watchmen”) and comic writer Tom King (“Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow”).
The series has been described as a grounded detective drama rather than a traditional superhero show. The story follows the two Green Lanterns investigating a murder in the American heartland, with Hal believing the case has extraterrestrial origins.
The show has drawn comparisons to prestige HBO dramas like “True Detective.” This tone matches the network’s decision to place “Lanterns” in its Sunday night programming slot, which has historically been home to major hits like “Game of Thrones” and “The Sopranos.”
Showrunner Chris Mundy confirmed in a recent interview that “Lanterns” was conceived as a multi-season series. However, he emphasized that the first season largely works as a standalone story. Mundy explained that the goal is to establish John Stewart as a character who can later appear in other DC Universe projects.
Cast and Characters
Kyle Chandler (“Friday Night Lights,” “Bloodline”) plays veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan. Aaron Pierre (“Rebel Ridge”) portrays John Stewart, the new recruit.
The supporting cast includes Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Ulrich Thomsen as Sinestro, Nicole Ari Parker, Jason Ritter, and Nathan Fillion reprising his role as Guy Gardner from “Superman.”
J. Alphonse Nicholson plays John Stewart’s father in the flashback scenes. Sherman Augustus also appears as John’s military father.
Laura Linney has also joined the cast, marking another major addition to the ensemble.
Release Information
“Lanterns” premieres on Sunday, August 16, 2026 at 9:00 PM ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max at the same time.
The series consists of eight episodes total. New episodes will release weekly on Sundays, with the finale scheduled for October 4, 2026.
For viewers in India, the series will premiere on Monday, August 17 exclusively on JioHotstar, alongside its global debut.
James Hawes directed the first two episodes. Stephen Williams, Geeta Vasant Patel, and Alik Sakharov also directed episodes throughout the season.
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What the First Five Minutes Reveal
The opening clip establishes several key details about the characters. Hal Jordan has been Green Lantern since 1986 and his identity is publicly known, as he appears without a mask during the TV interview.
John Stewart grew up admiring Hal Jordan from a distance. His military upbringing, particularly his father’s extreme methods of teaching fearlessness, shaped him into someone who does not show fear easily.
The show hints at tension between the two characters. Despite John’s childhood admiration for Hal, their adult meeting does not show any excitement from John. This suggests their relationship may be complicated.
The series appears to draw from the characters’ comic book origins. In the comics, John Stewart was introduced in 1971 as Hal Jordan’s backup, a role Hal did not initially welcome.
With the release of this five-minute preview, HBO has given audiences a clear picture of what to expect from “Lanterns.” The show balances personal backstory with a grounded mystery, setting it apart from typical superhero fare. The series arrives this Sunday, marking the next chapter in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe.
Also Read: Lanterns Co-Creator Explains Why Kyle Chandler Was Not Initially Considered for Hal Jordan Role
Lanterns HBO Release Schedule: Episode Dates, Story Details and Streaming Guide
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