Green Lantern was a dismal flop that damaged one of DC Comics' biggest brands. Until recently, the legacy of the 2011 film was contained to self-deprecating jabs peppered throughout Deadpool; Ryan Reynolds’s other comic book franchise.
Now, 15 years later, a stripped-back reimagining of the outlandish source material intends to make vital repairs.
In HBO series Lanterns, grizzled veteran Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and rookie John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) are sent to investigate a mass shooting in the close-knit community of Rushville, Nebraska. It’s not the kind of case you’d immediately hand to the intergalactic Green Lantern Corps – which specialises in extraterrestrial threats – yet clues point to a deeper conspiracy.
Suspicion surrounds the powerful Macon family, whose patriarch William (Garret Dillahunt) has spent years prepping for a covert alien invasion. Are they right to be so paranoid?
Clear comparisons with True Detective have been invited by the producers themselves, but Lanterns' various influences span further – from Paramount’s Yellowstone to HBO’s Watchmen (with which it shares screenwriter Damon Lindelof).
View Green Video on the source websiteThe latter is particularly relevant, given the 2019 show was another DC property led by a Black hero (in that case, Regina King’s Angela Abar aka ‘Sister Night’), where both the cruel history and insidious persistence of racism in the United States were confronted.
It’s a theme that Lanterns doesn’t ignore either. Pierre and co-star Poorna Jagannathan, who plays William's wife, Zoe, share thought-provoking scenes as two people of colour in a predominantly white conservative area. Alas, with its occasionally clanging dialogue undermining the valid commentary it attempts to make, Lanterns never reaches the profound insight of Watchmen.
An early episode chronicling John’s childhood is a major fumble, too; veering close to unintentional comedy in its most heavy-handed moments. Yet despite this, Pierre proves the most exciting addition to the DC Universe since David Corenswet’s Superman (and excitingly, the two are set to collide in next year’s blockbuster, Man of Tomorrow).
John is an ostensibly stoic ex-marine whose mastery over fear has been a lifelong ambition, but there’s an ocean beneath the surface that Pierre conveys with impressive subtlety. Expect those waters to become much choppier under the tutelage of Chandler’s antagonistic Hal who – much to Pierre’s chagrin – insists on calling him "junior".
Suffice to say, the older Lantern is a tough nut to crack. His yapping lectures and general negligence may test the patience of viewers as greatly as it does John, but Chandler is still able to eke out moments of sympathy for a character that’s far more ‘anti-’ than ‘hero’.
The lynchpin that holds the show together is Kelly Macdonald, who swaps out her natural Scottish tones for a Midwestern accent that sounds fresh out of Fargo. As the dutiful Sheriff Kane, Macdonald elevates every scene she’s in.
The trio initially have their work cut out. The story takes a few episodes to find its footing, during which time any sci-fi elements are used very sparingly. Fortunately, it does come together, and if anything, the lack of bells and whistles keeps us squarely focused on John’s arduous journey.
This grounded take also has the benefit of differentiating Lanterns from producer James Gunn’s more zany DC Universe titles (not least this year’s box office disaster Supergirl).
There are mercifully few nods to the wider franchise. The most notable is a cameo from a fellow Lantern Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), who debuted in 2025’s Superman. Series creators Lindelof, Chris Mundy and Tom King manage to remain true to his core traits – bowl cut and all – while toning down this arrogant buffoon for their decidedly grittier tale.
At the time of writing, the season finale was being held back from reviewers. However, considering how the show soars to gripping heights in its mid-season episodes, there’s good cause to be optimistic for a heroic conclusion – that could, once and for all, restore Green Lantern's light.
Lanterns will begin on 17 August on NOW TV and HBO Max.
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