The new DC series Lanterns has arrived on HBO and Max, bringing the Green Lantern universe to television with a grounded detective-thriller approach. The show premiered on Sunday, August 16, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. It airs weekly on HBO and streams simultaneously on Max (formerly HBO Max).
How Many Episodes Are in Lanterns Season 1 and When Does Each One Air
Lanterns Season 1 has eight episodes in total. New episodes release every Sunday night. Here is the complete release schedule:
- Episode 1 – August 16
- Episode 2 – August 23
- Episode 3 – August 30
- Episode 4 – September 6
- Episode 5 – September 13
- Episode 6 – September 20
- Episode 7 – September 27
- Episode 8 (Finale) – October 4
Each episode becomes available on Max at the same time it airs on HBO, so viewers can choose to watch live or stream on-demand.
Where to Watch Lanterns: Streaming and TV Details
Lanterns is available on HBO and Max in the United States. The show airs in the Sunday night slot at 9 p.m. ET/PT. For viewers outside the US, the series is expected to be available on Max in regions where the service operates, as well as through other Warner Bros. Discovery platforms and local broadcast partners.
What Is Lanterns About: Plot Summary
Lanterns follows Hal Jordan (played by Kyle Chandler), Earth’s first Green Lantern, and John Stewart (played by Aaron Pierre), a new recruit. The two intergalactic cops get pulled into a dark mystery in the American heartland. They travel to small-town Nebraska to investigate a series of murders that Hal believes involve aliens.
The series unfolds across two different timelines – 2016 and 2026 – creating a layered mystery that keeps viewers guessing. The show takes a grounded approach, drawing comparisons to cop dramas like True Detective and Training Day.
Who Is in the Lanterns Cast
The main cast of Lanterns includes:
- Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan
- Aaron Pierre as John Stewart
- Kelly Macdonald as Sheriff Kerry
- Garret Dillahunt in a supporting role
- Laura Linney in a supporting role
- Poorna Jagannathan in a supporting role
- Ulrich Thomsen in a supporting role
- Jason Ritter in a supporting role
- Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner (reprising his role from Superman)
- J. Alphonse Nicholson in a supporting role
- Jasmine Cephas Jones in a supporting role
Kyle Chandler is known for his Emmy-winning role as Coach Eric Taylor in Friday Night Lights. Aaron Pierre gained recognition for his roles in Old, The Underground Railroad, and Rebel Ridge.
Who Created Lanterns
The series was co-created by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King. Chris Mundy serves as showrunner. The first two episodes were directed by James Hawes. Executive producers include James Gunn, Peter Safran, Mundy, Lindelof, King, Ron Schmidt, and Hawes. The series comes from HBO in association with Warner Bros. Television and DC Studios.
The Big Twist in Episode 1: Hal Jordan’s Fate
Warning: Spoilers for Episode 1 ahead.
In the first episode, Hal Jordan is found dead in the bleachers by John Stewart and Sheriff Kerry. This shocking moment sets up the central mystery of the entire season. The show uses a non-linear structure, so viewers still see Hal in flashback scenes set in 2016.
Co-creator Damon Lindelof explained the thinking behind this bold choice:
“One of the very first things that was part of the premise was that this is a murder mystery with Green Lantern solving it, and then you sort of start at, ‘Well, who gets murdered and why are we supposed to care about them?’ The more that we talked about it, the more that it kept coming back to the idea of, ‘What if it was one of them?’”
Kyle Chandler said he “cheered” when he read the ending of the first episode. Kelly Macdonald, who plays Sheriff Kerry, said filming the scene where she discovers Hal’s body was emotional.
Lanterns Review Roundup: What Critics Are Saying
Early reviews for Lanterns have been positive. Critics have praised the show’s grounded approach to the superhero genre and the strong performances from Chandler and Pierre. The series has been described as a mix of superpower action, odd-couple comedy, and old-school cop story.
What This Means for the DC Universe
Lanterns is the second original series from DC Studios under the leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran. The show connects to the larger DCU, with Nathan Fillion reprising his role as Guy Gardner from the Superman film.
The series also reveals that Hal Jordan is Earth’s “first Green Lantern” in the DCU, which means the character Alan Scott – the original Green Lantern from the comics – does not exist in this universe.
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Season 2 Already in Development
Even before Season 1 premiered, the writers’ room for Season 2 had already started working. Co-creator Damon Lindelof has teased that more stories are on the way. Showrunner Chris Mundy has also hinted that John Stewart could appear in other DCU projects beyond the show.
Also Read: House of the Dragon Showrunner Explains Vhagar’s Limited Role in Season 3
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