There is a lot of superhero stuff around these days, so a new DC series needs something more than a famous character and a lot of CGI to make people care. Lanterns looks interesting precisely because it is taking a different route. The series follows veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan and rookie John Stewart as they investigate a murder in the American heartland, turning what could have been another straightforward superhero adventure into a dark, Earth-based mystery. The show premieres August 16 on HBO Max.
1. It's a Green Lantern Story That Doesn't Feel Like One
The biggest attraction is probably the way Lanterns approaches the Green Lantern mythology. Instead of immediately throwing viewers into an endless parade of aliens, spaceships and cosmic battles, the story starts on Earth and puts Hal Jordan and John Stewart in the middle of a murder investigation. DC has previously described the concept as an Earth-based detective story, even comparing its intended feel to True Detective. That combination of superhero mythology and crime drama could make the series feel very different from the usual comic-book show.
2. Hal Jordan and John Stewart Have an Interesting Relationship
The series isn't simply about two Green Lanterns working together because the plot says they have to. Hal is the experienced veteran, while John is the younger Lantern who is still finding his place, and the trailers suggest that their relationship is already complicated. DC's own coverage points out that Hal has been training John and appears to see him as his eventual replacement, creating tension between the two characters. Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre also seem to have the kind of chemistry that could make their arguments as entertaining as the action scenes.
3. It's Basically a Murder Mystery With Superheroes
The premise is wonderfully simple: two intergalactic cops investigate a murder in the American heartland. That's enough to make the series interesting even if you aren't particularly invested in Green Lantern lore. As the investigation develops, however, the story begins connecting the seemingly ordinary crime to the much larger world surrounding the Lanterns. It gives the show an opportunity to build suspense gradually instead of explaining the entire DC universe in the first episode.
4. The Green Lantern Powers Could Actually Be Fun Again
One thing that Green Lantern fans have always loved is the power ring itself. The ability to create almost anything imaginable from green energy is one of the most visually interesting concepts in superhero comics, and the trailers suggest that Lanterns isn't going to forget about it. We've already seen Hal and John creating different constructs, including some surprisingly ordinary objects. That could give the show plenty of fun moments without turning every scene into a giant CGI explosion.
5. The Cast Is Bigger Than Just Two Lanterns
Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre lead the series as Hal Jordan and John Stewart, but the supporting cast gives the show another reason to pay attention. Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Jasmine Cephas Jones, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Jason Ritter and others are part of the ensemble, while Ulrich Thomsen plays Sinestro. Nathan Fillion also returns as Guy Gardner after appearing as the character in Superman. With that lineup, Lanterns has the potential to feel like a serious ensemble drama rather than a two-character superhero show.
6. Sinestro Is Finally Getting Another Live-Action Shot
Sinestro is one of the most important characters in Green Lantern history, and seeing him back in live action is a big deal for longtime DC fans. Ulrich Thomsen's version appears to have a particularly interesting relationship with Hal, and the trailers hint that Sinestro understands Hal's feelings and weaknesses better than Hal would probably like. That relationship could become one of the most interesting parts of the series, especially if the show chooses to keep Sinestro somewhere between ally, mentor and threat.
7. It Could Become an Important Part of the New DC Universe
Lanterns isn't being developed as an isolated superhero experiment. DC has positioned it as part of the larger interconnected universe being built under James Gunn and Peter Safran. The series also brings in Guy Gardner and introduces a story that can connect the grounded world of Earth with the much stranger cosmic side of DC. The trailers have already shown glimpses of alien worlds, a space prison and the Manhunters, suggesting that the murder investigation may eventually become much bigger than it first appears.
What makes Lanterns worth watching is that it doesn't seem to be trying to win people over simply by shouting "GREEN LANTERN!" and throwing a giant CGI monster onto the screen. The interesting part is the mixture of a detective story, two very different Lanterns, a mysterious murder and a gradual expansion into DC's cosmic mythology. If the series manages to balance those elements properly, Lanterns could end up being one of the more unusual entries in the new DC Universe. And honestly, after so many superhero stories, having two space cops investigate a murder in the middle of nowhere sounds pretty refreshing.
