With the HBO Max premiere of Lanterns happening on August 16, we’re only days away from DC Studios‘ latest take on the Green Lantern Corps. We all know what happened in 2011, when Ryan Reynolds starred in one of Hollywood’s biggest misfires, thanks to Martin Campbell’s Green Lantern. While that movie does have its defenders, most agree that it’s a trash fire that still burns in the minds of Green Lantern fans. Thankfully, I have it on good authority that the upcoming Lanterns series is the real deal, and people should be excited about DC’s grittier, True Detective-like take on the hallowed DC Comics property.
An Intense First Look
To get fans hyped for the Lanterns premiere, James Gunn and HBO Max shared the first five minutes of the premiere episode online. The clip begins with a flashback to 1996, when a young John Stewart gives his full attention to a television interview featuring Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler). During the interview, Jordan talks about what it takes to become a member of the Green Lantern Corps and how one requirement is showing no fear. Stewart watched Hal with admiration, transfixed by the space cop’s fortitude and conviction.
After the interview concludes, John’s father arrives home, still dressed in military fatigues. He orders John to step outside, grabbing an apple on his way out. John places the apple atop his head, standing stock still, unblinking. His father grabs the pistol from his hip and aims. “Are you afraid,” John’s father shouts. “No, sir,” John replies, his voice steady. John’s father fires his gun, and the skin and flesh of the apple explode onto a nearby garage wall. John’s father pulls the young boy into his arms, strokes his head, then tells him it’s time to eat. Ten years later, we join an adult John while training inside a dusty gym. After beating the tar out of a heavy bag, Hal picks him up in a beat-up car and apologizes for his late arrival.
Why This Gritty Vibe Works
I like what I see so far. As I’d said, I have it on good authority that Lanterns is going to be a hell of a ride, and after getting a sense of the tone of the show, I’m going to make sure I tune in. As much as I would like a space-oriented version of Green Lantern, I’m digging this show’s vibes, and I like that it’s trying to do something different with the decades-old property. More than anything, I hope this show is a significant hit, especially as DC Studios continues to find its footing after Supergirl struggled at the box office.
The DC Studios series Lanterns premieres on Sunday, August 16, 2026, at 9:00 PM ET on HBO and Max. The eight-episode first season releases weekly on Sundays, concluding with the finale on October 4, 2026.
Episode Release Dates
- Episode 1: August 16, 2026
- Episode 2: August 23, 2026
- Episode 3: August 30, 2026
- Episode 4: September 6, 2026
- Episode 5: September 13, 2026
- Episode 6: September 20, 2026
- Episode 7: September 27, 2026
- Episode 8 (Finale): October 4, 2026
What do you think about the first five minutes of Lanterns? Let us know in the comments section below.
The comment section exists to allow readers to discuss the article constructively and respectfully, focused on the topic at hand.
What’s Not Allowed