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The clock above counts down to Lanterns, the James Gunn-era DC Studios premium series for HBO Max with Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler, premiering in 2026.
Lanterns is HBO Max's flagship 2026 superhero launch and the second TV series in the new James Gunn DC Universe (after Creature Commandos). Aaron Pierre (Mufasa: The Lion King) plays John Stewart, a Marine veteran turned Green Lantern, with Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights) as the older Hal Jordan, mentoring Stewart on Earth. Chris Mundy (True Detective: Night Country, The Killing) showruns the eight-episode procedural-tinged drama.
James Gunn has publicly framed Lanterns as a True Detective-style crime mystery rather than a Green Lantern Corps space epic — keeping Stewart and Jordan grounded on Earth and using the Lantern angle as a way into a sustained terrestrial murder investigation. The show connects directly to the wider DCU film slate, including Superman and the upcoming Supergirl theatrical release.
The show focuses on John Stewart and Hal Jordan investigating a murder in the American heartland, with the broader Lantern-cosmology mythology held back to keep the story tight and character-driven. James Gunn has suggested the season ends on a hook that ties directly into upcoming DCU films. Aaron Pierre's John Stewart is positioned as the DCU's anchor Green Lantern going forward.
Lanterns premieres in 2026 on HBO Max, with eight weekly episodes through the run. UK and international rollouts via HBO Max simultaneously where available.
For more 2026 HBO Max prestige TV, see the Hacks Final Season countdown and the Industry Season 4 countdown.
When does Lanterns premiere? 2026 (window expected late summer / early fall). Who plays the Green Lanterns? Aaron Pierre as John Stewart, Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan. Is this part of the new DCU? Yes — the second TV series in James Gunn's DC Universe. How many episodes? Eight.
