I watched the first trailer for Lanterns multiple times — these are the 7 biggest questions I have about the new HBO Max show | Tech Radar

Overview

I watched the first trailer for Lanterns multiple times — these are the 7 biggest questions I have about the new HBO Max show

Currently, Lanterns is the only DC Universe TV series that'll arrive in 2026

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Lanterns will light up the streaming skies in August (Image credit: DC Studios/Max)

The first trailer for Lanterns has finally taken flight. Months after Lanterns' first teaser was shown behind closed doors, HBO and DC Studios publicly released the first teaser for the sci-fi murder-mystery show on March 3 — and it's already sparked plenty of discussion among comic-book fans.

Given that this is the DC Universe (DCU) TV series' inaugural teaser, there's not much we can glean about its story and cast of characters. There's only 90 seconds of footage to pore over, so we've been left with more questions than answers.

Of those queries, there are seven that stand out — to me, anyway. Here, then, are the biggest questions I have about Lanterns' first trailer.

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1. What is the official release date for Lanterns?

Sitting around waiting for that official release date to drop like... (Image credit: John Johnson/HBO)

In short: we don't know. Its first teaser only revealed that it'll arrive sometime in August.

That launch month won't surprise anyone who's followed Lanterns' development. Last October, it was reported that Lanterns wouldn't air in early 2026 as previously thought. One month later, those fears were realized when HBO boss Casey Bloys confirmed that Lanterns would air sometime in mid-2026. Then, in December 2025, a 'new in 2026' HBO Max sizzle reel trailer reaffirmed that Lanterns would arrive this year.

So, when will it premiere? In my view, much depends on House of the Dragon season 3. The Game of Thrones prequel returns this June, but its official launch date hasn't been announced, either. If it lands an early-June release, its eight-episode run will be done by early August, thereby alowing Lanterns to fill the then-vacant primetime Sunday night slot on HBO. The longer it takes for House of the Dragon's third season to come out, though, the later Lanterns is likely to arrive.

So much for being Green Lanterns... (Image credit: HBO Max/DC Studios)

Of all the teaser's biggest talking points, this one has ruffled the most feathers among DC comic-book fans.

For the uninitiated: members of the Green Lantern Corps — essentially, they're an intergalactic space cop agency — are famous for wearing bright, green suits. However, the only glimpse we get of one of these costumes is a rather drab, largely brown and black jacket seen hanging in Hal Jordan's closet.

It didn't take long for fans to voice their displeasure over the reveal. Indeed, Reddit threads on r/DCULeaks, r/DCcomics, and r/DC_Cinematic are full of comments from disgruntled and perplexed fans about the grounded and gritty nature of Jordan's cosmic-hero attire. Heck, in some circles, the backlash has been so intense that the official HBO Max X/Twitter account responded in sassy fashion over the lack of green in the teaser.

As some more level-headed Redditors, such as SDLRob and Tricky-Afternoon 6884, have pointed out, there might be more to this than meets the eye. This might just be an old suit that Jordan used to sport, and/or may which have been handed down to him by a former human Green Lantern in Allen Scott.

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Nevertheless, until the next DCU Chapter One show arrives and we get more context for this specific shot, expect more criticism to be leveled at its creative team.

The plot of HBO's Green Lantern TV show is largely shrouded in mystery (Image credit: John Johnson/HBO)

So far, we've only received a couple of details about Lanterns' plot.

For starters, we know it'll star Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler as fan-favorite Green Lanterns John Stewart and Hal Jordan. Per a press release from HBO Max, the pair will be "drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland", too. Oh, and it'll be "as much a buddy cop show as a superhero one", according to one of its co-showrunners.

And... that's pretty much it. Sure, its debut teaser gives us a flavor of what to expect from Lanterns, but this is a sci-fi whodunit whose plot is very much being kept under lock and key.

4. Who is the main villain in HBO's Green Lantern TV show?

Sheriff Kerry will be conducting her own investigation into the death of someone important (Image credit: John Johnson/HBO)

As for the culprit behind the crime that Stewart and Jordan are investigating, that's not been publicly disclosed, either.

Some already know who Lanterns' Big Bad is — don't worry, I won't say who it is here — after one star posted a major spoiler on social media last year. Luckily, this trailer doesn't ruin the surprise for more casual observers; let's hope Lanterns' official full trailer doesn't when it arrives closer to launch.

Judging by the footage we've seen, Hal clearly favors being a lone wolf (Image credit: John Johnson/HBO)

Given the recklessness, cockiness, and sarcasm he displays in this two-minute teaser, it's clear that Chandler's Jordan retains many of the personality traits of his comic-book namesake.

What isn't clear — and I'm sure Lanterns will cover this in flashbacks — is his backstory. Will it play out in a similar manner to how he becomes a Green Lantern on the page? Or have Lanterns' chief creators in Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King taken creative liberties with his origins?

Additionally, how long has he been operating as a Green Lantern? Why was he chosen to train Stewart? And why doesn't he consider Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner, who we met in 2025's Superman, to be a proper Green Lantern? Hopefully, we'll get answers to all of those questions soon.

6. Why is John Stewart chosen to be the latest addition to the Green Lantern Corps?

Why was John Stewart chosen to be the human race's next Green Lantern? (Image credit: John Johnson/HBO)

As the show's co-lead — learn more about its cast and other key details in my Lanterns guide — Pierre's Stewart will have as big a part to play in its story as Chandler's Jordan.

However, while the comics hold some clues as to why they're paired up in the first place, this trailer doesn't tell us why Stewart has been handpicked to seemingly succeed Jordan as Earth's primary Green Lantern. We have no idea which of Stewart's numerous backstories — his origins have been retconned a few times — Lanterns will pull from, either.

Like Jordan, I'm hoping HBO's Green Lantern TV series will provide answers in the present or via flashbacks when it premieres on some of the world's best streaming services.

Guy Gardner should have a role to play in Lanterns (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

Yes — at least one will, anyway. Fillion has already confirmed (per Entertainment Weekly) that Gardner will show up at some point.

There are many, many Green Lanterns who could also appear, though — so will any of them? Jordan mentions there's a squirrel Green Lantern (their name is Ch'p, FYI), but that doesn't ahem shine a light on a potential cameo from said alien rodent. I guess we'll just have to wait for Lanterns to be released in full to find out.

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As Tech Radar's senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You'll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.

An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Tom also writes reviews, analytical articles, opinion pieces, and interview-led features on the biggest franchises, actors, directors and other industry leaders. You may see his quotes pop up in the odd official Marvel Studios video, too, such as this Moon Knight TV spot.

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Key Takeaways

• I watched the first trailer for Lanterns multiple times — these are the 7 biggest questions I have about the new HBO Max show

• Currently, Lanterns is the only DC Universe TV series that'll arrive in 2026

• When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission

• Lanterns will light up the streaming skies in August (Image credit: DC Studios/Max)

• The first trailer for Lanterns has finally taken flight