Lanterns Creator Unveils One of the DCU Show's Defining Themes

DC Studios finally cracked open the Lanterns vault a bit, and it sounds like the Green Lantern show actually has a pulse. Co-creator/showrunner Chris Mundy just laid out the tone, the themes, and why Aaron Pierre is the right John Stewart. It is not what I expected, in a good way.

The quick version

• Lanterns is created by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King, with Mundy serving as showrunner.
• It is a Warner Bros. Television and DC Studios production, expected to land on HBO Max next year. No exact premiere date yet.
• Kyle Chandler is playing Hal Jordan. Aaron Pierre is John Stewart.
• The story tracks Hal and John investigating a murder in the United States.

So what kind of show is this?

"It is as much of a buddy cop show as a superhero show."

That is Mundy, talking to Men's Health, and yeah, that tracks. The pitch isn't cosmic homework; it is two pros on a grounded case who just happen to carry power rings. The surprising part is the thematic spine he keeps returning to: knowing when to step aside versus when to take the reins. That tug-of-war sits between Hal and John the entire time.

Hal and John: control vs. control-yourself

Mundy describes John Stewart as someone who keeps his power by not taking the bait. He is not the guy who needs to yell to win a moment, because he already knows he belongs. That restraint is the point. And yes, it helps that Pierre reads as physically imposing the second he walks into frame, but Mundy is more interested in the other half of the performance: the softness, the thoughtfulness, the stuff you can't fake or teach. The dynamic with Chandler's Hal, set against a very human murder investigation, is where the sparks fly.

Why Aaron Pierre clicked

Pierre approached John Stewart with a real sense of responsibility, especially as a Black man stepping into a role that carries weight for a lot of fans. Mundy says you'll feel the reverence in the performance, and that matters. Pierre's own read on John is all about strength, fortitude, and the relentless push to be the best version of yourself — including the part where you hold yourself accountable when you fall short. That is a nicely specific theme for a superhero show.

When to expect it

HBO Max, next year. The exact date is still under wraps. Consider this the tone-setter: buddy-cop energy, two Green Lanterns on a murder case, and a character study baked in. Honestly, that's a smart way to reintroduce this corner of the DCU.