Is ‘Lanterns’ about to become James Gunn’s biggest DCU mystery yet? Everything there’s to know

The DC series arrives August 16 with a murder mystery, Green Lantern lore and ties to James Gunn’s larger DCU

The wait for James Gunn’s Lanterns is almost over, but the latest footage suggests HBO’s Green Lantern series could be far bigger than its grounded premise initially suggested.

The DC series is set to premiere on August 16, with Kyle Chandler playing veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre portraying rookie John Stewart. The pair are introduced as two very different members of the Green Lantern Corps who become partners while investigating a murder in the American heartland.

That murder mystery remains central to the story, but the latest trailer has given fans a much clearer look at the threat waiting beyond the small town setting. The footage introduces the Manhunters, a dangerous group from Green Lantern mythology, while also giving viewers a significant look at Ulrich Thomsen as Sinestro.

The new footage was unveiled alongside the series’ San Diego Comic Con presentation on July 24. It expanded the scope of Lanterns, showing Hal and John using their Green Lantern abilities and bringing elements of the cosmic mythology into a series that has largely been marketed as a grounded detective drama.

The Manhunters are particularly significant because their appearance immediately pushes the story beyond a conventional murder investigation. In the trailer, John asks Hal about the threat, while Hal later confronts Sinestro in prison. The footage also includes a full Green Lantern oath from Chandler’s character, offering a much stronger showcase of the superhero side of the series.

Showrunner Chris Mundy has previously described Lanterns as being as much a buddy cop story as a superhero series. The relationship between Hal and John is therefore expected to remain at the centre of the first season, with their contrasting personalities shaping the investigation.

Chandler’s Hal Jordan is an experienced and respected Lantern who is approaching a transition in his career, while Pierre’s John Stewart is a newcomer being trained for the role. Their relationship is expected to develop alongside the mystery, with the trailer showing tension between the two characters as John attempts to understand his mentor and his new responsibilities.

The series also has significant connections to the wider DC Universe. Nathan Fillion is returning as Guy Gardner after appearing in Superman, while James Gunn has previously confirmed that Lanterns will connect with other DCU projects through elements including Checkmate and Salvation.

Pierre’s role could also extend beyond the HBO series. He is set to reprise John Stewart in Man of Tomorrow, the upcoming Superman sequel, further establishing the character within the developing DCU.

The creative team adds another major reason for anticipation. Chris Mundy serves as showrunner and worked on the series alongside Damon Lindelof and Tom King. James Hawes directed the first episodes, with Stephen Williams, Geeta Vasant Patel and Alik Sakharov also directing episodes.

The cast includes Kelly Macdonald, Jason Ritter, Nicole Ari Parker, Laura Linney, Paula Patton, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Sherman Augustus and Paul Ben Victor, alongside Thomsen and Fillion.

What makes Lanterns particularly intriguing is the contrast between its two identities. On the surface, the series begins with Hal and John investigating a murder in rural America. Yet the arrival of the Manhunters, Sinestro and the wider Green Lantern mythology suggests the investigation could eventually lead into much larger territory