After an earlier teaser sparked online debate for feeling surprisingly light on actual Green Lantern mythology, HBO Max’s new trailer for Lanterns is finally leaning into the emerald energy fans have been waiting for.
The latest footage offers a much deeper look at the upcoming DC series starring Kyle Chandler as veteran Lantern Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as Lantern-in-training John Stewart, while further teasing the show’s unusual structure and grounded detective tone. Rather than going full cosmic spectacle out of the gate, Lanterns appears to be positioning itself as a slow-burning mystery thriller unfolding across two timelines: 2016 and 2026.
The new trailer gives fans a clearer glimpse into the larger mythology surrounding the Green Lantern Corps, including more power ring action and a better sense of the show’s scale, after earlier footage drew criticism online for feeling “not Green Lantern enough.”
At the center is Chandler’s weathered Hal Jordan, who appears less like a polished superhero and more like a haunted investigator carrying years of cosmic baggage. The footage also spotlights Laura Linney in a mysterious role that remains tightly under wraps, while Nathan Fillion returns as the brash Guy Gardner following his appearance in Superman. Take a look below:
Visually, Lanterns continues to distinguish itself from previous live-action DC adaptations by embracing a grounded neo-noir atmosphere instead of pure space opera. There are flashes of the larger intergalactic mythology, but the emphasis remains on paranoia, secrets, and a pair of Lanterns uncovering something much bigger beneath the surface.
The result feels closer to True Detective by way of the DC Universe than a traditional superhero series — and based on the reaction to the new footage, fans may finally be seeing the green light they were hoping for.
The Geek is a working screenwriter, director and screenwriting instructor.
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Lanterns finally goes full Green Lantern in new teaser
