HBO only officially ordered the stereotypical “Lanterns” just last month. This fantastic new, big-budget limited series from DC Studios will finally introduce all-new versions of Green Lantern fan-favorites to the small screen! Directed by James Hawes, the first two episodes promise to set the tone for this exciting addition to the DC Universe.
Lanterns would be a Green Lantern-focused show, starring Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart. These two Green Lanterns will have to confront the complexity of their roles as intergalactic peacekeepers on Earth. The production and creative teams are clearly using the series to mash-up crime drama, in the mold of something like True Detective, with classic superhero fare.
“This is a story of a couple of Green Lanterns, John Stewart and Hal Jordan,” said James Gunn, co-head of DC Studios. He discussed the idea of the entire series being a journey. This is pretty much a ground-based narrative television show, very much something like True Detective,” he added. We’ve got a few other Lanterns sprinkled throughout, but the core story centers on a pair of Green Lanterns serving as beat cops patrolling Precinct Earth. What they find leads them into the most explosive secret that connects to our biggest event in all of the DCU.
The creative team and artistic talent featured behind Lanterns includes some of the most exciting people working in the theatre today. Television writer Damon Lindelof has an even greater role in crafting the story. He is acclaimed for his work on series such as Lost and Watchmen. He’s joined by comic book writer Tom King, as well as Justin Britt-Gibson, Breannah Gibson, and Vanessa Baden Kelly.
Along with Chandler and Pierre, the series cast includes Academy Award nominee Kelly Macdonald, Poorna Jagannathan, and Jasmine Cephas Jones. Ulrich Thomsen has apparently been signed to play Sinestro. This character is traditionally understood as the chief villain in the Green Lantern mythos.
Anyone hoping on Garrett Dillahunt to be Oliver Queen, as was once rumored, don’t get excited, as he’s confirmed his role is as William Macon. Needless to say, fans are losing themselves in ecstasy over this casting coup. They’re excited to see how the character will play into the larger arc of the story!
Production for Lanterns is currently underway and everyone is buzzing with anticipation! This series is sure to continue exploring each character’s development while peeling back some of the larger mysteries of the DC Universe.