The new DC series Lanterns dropped a fun surprise for pop culture fans in its first episode. Hal Jordan (played by Kyle Chandler) used a Harry Potter quiz to question a suspect. What made the scene even better? Kelly Macdonald, who plays Sheriff Kerry Kane in the show, played a character in the Harry Potter movies. The showrunners added this detail as a clever Easter egg that connects Macdonald’s past work to her current role.
Lanterns premiered on August 16, 2026, on HBO and HBO Max. The series comes from DC Studios and is part of the new DC Universe under James Gunn and Peter Safran. It follows Green Lantern legend Hal Jordan and new recruit John Stewart (played by Aaron Pierre) as they look into a murder in a small Nebraska town.
The show has been a big hit with viewers. It got 9.3 million views in its first three days, making it the biggest DC Studios premiere on HBO Max. The third episode later reached 10 million viewers worldwide.
Hal Jordan’s Harry Potter Test Catches an Alien
In the first episode, Hal Jordan questions a suspect he believes is not human. He asks the man a simple question: “Where does Harry Potter go to school?” A person from Earth would easily know the answer is Hogwarts. The suspect does not know, which gives Hal the proof he needs.
Sheriff Kerry Kane watches the questioning from another room. She looks confused by Hal’s unusual method. Hal later tells the suspect the answer: “Harry Potter went to Hogwarts, you ignorant alien f*ck!”
The scene is funny on its own. But it becomes even more clever because Kelly Macdonald played Helena Ravenclaw, also known as the Grey Lady, in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011). Helena Ravenclaw is the ghost of Ravenclaw House and the daughter of Hogwarts founder Rowena Ravenclaw. So Macdonald’s character in Lanterns was right there while Hal asked about Hogwarts.
Episode 2 Shows Hal Jordan as a True Potterhead
The Harry Potter reference did not stop with the first episode. In Episode 2, John Stewart looks through Hal Jordan’s home in Coast City. He finds a framed photo of Hal Jordan with the Golden Trio – Harry, Hermione, and Ron – on the red carpet of a Harry Potter movie premiere.
This photo confirms what fans already guessed from Episode 1. Hal Jordan is a big Harry Potter fan. Fans on Reddit quickly noticed the detail and started talking about it.
“Between this (the photo) and the initial interrogation question he asked, it’s pretty clear that the DCU Hal Jordan is a pretty big Harry Potter fan.”
Kelly Macdonald’s Hollywood Journey
Kelly Macdonald has built a strong career over the years. She is a Scottish actress born on February 23, 1976. She became known for her role in Trainspotting (1996) and later appeared in Gosford Park, No Country for Old Men, and Boardwalk Empire.
In 2011, she joined the Harry Potter franchise. She played the Grey Lady, the ghost of Helena Ravenclaw. She replaced actress Nina Young in the role. The character helps Harry, Ron, and Hermione during their search for the diadem of Ravenclaw.
Macdonald also voiced Princess Merida in Pixar’s Brave (2012). She has compared joining the DC Universe to that experience. When Disney bought Pixar, her Pixar princess character became a Disney Princess. She said joining the DCU feels similar.
Sheriff Kerry Kane’s Role in Lanterns
In Lanterns, Macdonald plays Sheriff Kerry Kane, a no-nonsense law officer in the small town of Rushville, Nebraska. She is deeply devoted to her family and her town. When Hal Jordan and John Stewart arrive to investigate a murder, they disrupt her routine.
Macdonald has described her character as the “voice of reason” in the show. Her job is to keep everyone grounded while the two Green Lanterns deal with bigger cosmic issues.
“She really struggles when the Lanterns turn up in her town. It’s her jurisdiction; she’s in charge, and she’s trying to find out what has happened here herself and manage it. And at every turn, it feels like Hal Jordan, in particular, is trying to wind her up… he’s very disobedient!”
The character also has a surprising connection to Batman. Sheriff Kane is originally from Gotham City. This connects her to the famous DC location where Bruce Wayne fights crime. Macdonald said it was “quite thrilling” to learn her character would be tied to Gotham.
“I wasn’t a comic book girl [growing up], so I wasn’t au fait with all of that, but Gotham is an iconic place.”
The Kane family name is important in DC Comics. Martha Kane was Bruce Wayne’s mother, and Kate Kane became Batwoman. While there is no proof that Kerry Kane comes from that same family, it opens the door for possible connections in the future.
What Makes the Harry Potter Easter Egg Special
The Harry Potter quiz in Lanterns works on two levels. First, it is a funny way for Hal Jordan to catch an alien. Second, it is a smart nod to Kelly Macdonald’s past work. The show does not draw attention to the connection. It lets fans discover it on their own.
This type of Easter egg rewards viewers who pay close attention. It also shows that the show’s creators respect the actors’ careers. Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan comes across as a pop culture fan who loves Harry Potter. Meanwhile, Kelly Macdonald’s Sheriff Kane unknowingly takes part in a quiz about the school where her previous character lived as a ghost.
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Lanterns Brings a New Kind of DC Story
Lanterns is different from other superhero shows. It combines sci-fi elements with a crime drama and detective noir style. Showrunner Chris Mundy has said the series is “as much of a buddy cop show as a superhero show”.
The show takes place across two timelines. One timeline is set in 2016, and the other in 2026. This structure allows the show to explore different mysteries at the same time.
Mundy created the series with Damon Lindelof (known for Watchmen and Lost) and comic book writer Tom King. The show was influenced by crime dramas like Training Day and True Detective.
“It was less of a whodunnit as much as like, what happened and why? We think of this as a relationship show between John and Hal, and there’s a lot to unpack over the course of the eight episodes.”
The cast includes many well-known actors. Nathan Fillion plays Guy Gardner, another Green Lantern. Laura Linney joined the cast as one of the Guardians of the Universe. Other cast members include Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Jason Ritter, and Ulrich Thomsen.
Fans React to the Harry Potter Connection
Fans have enjoyed the Harry Potter references in Lanterns. Many took to social media to share their thoughts. One Reddit user wrote:
“Between this (the photo) and the initial interrogation question he asked, it’s pretty clear that the DCU Hal Jordan is a pretty big Harry Potter fan.”
Others found it funny that Kelly Macdonald’s character was in the room during the Harry Potter quiz. Her past role as the Grey Lady added an extra layer of humor to the scene. The show did not need to explain the connection. Fans who knew Macdonald’s work could appreciate the detail on their own.
Lanterns airs new episodes every Sunday at 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET on HBO and streams at the same time on HBO Max. The first season has eight episodes. With the show’s strong start and growing viewership, it has already become one of the most talked-about series of 2026.
Also Read: Lanterns Rewrites John Stewart’s Origin Story – Here’s What Changed and Why Fans Are Divided
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