The latest trailer for Lanterns reveals HBO made the right call for the DC Universe show. This divisive choice should lead to a more impactful show this summer.

In Lanterns, Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre star as Hal Jordan and John Stewart. Hal is a legendary member of the Green Lantern Corps. John is a recruit who must prove to Hal that he’s worthy of the ring, which is considered the “greatest weapon in the universe.” Hal and John head to the American heartland to investigate a murder — one that is shrouded in conspiracy.

Set in the DC Universe, the Lanterns teaser showcases more superhero elements than were previously revealed in the first footage. The most notable moment occurs when Hal is seen wearing his Green Lantern uniform.

Why making Lanterns a gritty HBO drama is the right decision

Lanterns might be a DCU show, but it feels more like an HBO drama. The series has been described as a True Detective-style show, and the new footage supports that assessment. Hal’s and John’s dynamic is similar to that of Rust Cohle and Marty Hart in True Detective Season 1. Lanterns is also set across two timelines, just like that inaugural season with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson.

Lanterns showrunner Chris Mundy, who worked on True Detective: Night Country, has embraced the comparisons to True Detective Season 1. “It was less of a whodunnit as much as like, what happened and why?” Mundy added that he thinks of Lanterns as a “relationship show between John and Hal.”

The last noteworthy live-action adaptation of the Green Lantern Corps came in 2011, with Ryan Reynolds’ critically panned Green Lantern. Instead of trying to fix what didn’t work in 2011’s Green Lantern, Lanterns has smartly pivoted to a gritty HBO drama with broader appeal to mass audiences. Non-comic fans might not know anything about the Green Lantern Corps, but they can understand a murder mystery featuring two cops who don’t like each other.

Look at a show like Watchmen and how it can use the superhero genre as a vehicle to tell grounded stories about flawed humans. The gamble paid off — Watchmen became a critically acclaimed HBO drama that won 11 Emmy Awards. Watchmen creator Damon Lindelof is a co-creator of Lanterns.

Lanterns premieres on HBO Max on August 16, 2026.

Originally reported by Dan Girolamo for SuperHeroHype.