The first trailer of Lanterns has finally taken flight. months later LanternsThe 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 a lot of discussion among comic book fans.
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Of those queries, there are seven that stand out (to me, at least). Here, then, are the most important questions I have about Lanterns‘first trailer.
1. What is the official release date of Lanterns?
In short: we don’t know. Its first preview only revealed that it will arrive sometime in August.
That month of release will not surprise anyone who has followed it. Lanterns‘ development. Last October it was reported that Lanterns would not air in early 2026 as previously thought. A month later, those fears came true when HBO boss Casey Bloys confirmed that Lanterns would air sometime in mid-2026. Then in December 2025, a ‘new in 2026’ HBO Max trailer was reaffirmed. that Lanterns It would arrive this year.
So when will it be released? In my opinion, a lot depends on Dragon House season 3. The game of Thrones The prequel returns this June, but its official release date has also not been announced. If it premieres at the beginning of June, its eight-episode broadcast will end at the beginning of August, which will allow Lanterns to fill the then-vacant Sunday night primetime slot on HBO. The later Dragon HouseHowever, when the third season comes out, the last Lanterns it is likely to arrive.
2. Where is the famous Green Lantern suit?
Of all the major talking points in the trailer, this is the one that irritates DC comics fans the most.
For the uninitiated: Members of the Green Lantern Corps (essentially, they’re an intergalactic space police 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.
Fans were quick to express their displeasure at the revelation. In fact, Reddit threads on r/DCULeaks, r/DCcomics, and r/DC_Cinematic are filled with comments from disgruntled and perplexed fans about the steadfast and fearless nature of Jordan’s cosmic hero outfit. Heck, in some circles, the backlash has been so intense that the official HBO Max X/Twitter account responded boldly to the lack of green in the trailer.
HBO is being bold from r/DC_Cinematic
As some more level-headed Redditors, like SDLRob and Tricky-Afternoon6884, have pointed out, there could be more to this than meets the eye. This could simply be an old costume that Jordan used to sport, and/or it may have been passed down to him from a former human Green Lantern in Allen Scott.
However, until the next DCU Chapter One show arrives and we have more context for this specific shot, expect more criticism to be leveled at its creative team.
3. What is Lanterns really about?
So far, we have only received a couple of details about Lanterns‘ plot.
For starters, we know it will star Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler as fan-favorite Green Lanterns John Stewart and Hal Jordan. According to a press release from HBO Max, the pair will also be “drawn into a dark Earth mystery as they investigate a murder in the heartland of America.” Oh, and it will be “both a buddy cop show and a superhero show,” according to one of its co-showrunners.
And… that’s it. Sure, their debut teaser gives us an idea of what to expect from Lanternsbut this is a science fiction crime novel whose plot is kept under lock and key.
4. Who is the main villain of HBO’s Green Lantern TV show?
As for the culprit of the crime that Stewart and Jordan are investigating, that has also not been publicly revealed.
Some already know who Lanterns‘ Big Bad is (don’t worry, I won’t say who it is here) after a star posted a major spoiler on social media last year. Fortunately, this trailer doesn’t ruin the surprise for more casual observers; let’s hope Lanterns‘The official full trailer does not appear as the release approaches.
5. What is Hal Jordan’s story in Lanterns?
Given the recklessness, arrogance, and sarcasm he displays in this two-minute preview, it’s clear that Chandler’s Jordan retains many of the personality traits of his comic book namesake.
That it’s not sure – and I’m sure Lanterns will cover this in flashbacks – it’s his backstory. Will he develop similarly to how he becomes Green Lantern on the page? or have LanternsDid the main creators of Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof and Tom King take creative liberties with their origins?
Also, how long has he been operating as a Green Lantern? Why were you chosen to coach Stewart? And why not consider Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner, who we met in 2025? Supermanto be a real Green Lantern? Hopefully, we’ll get answers to all those questions soon.
6. Why is John Stewart chosen to be the latest addition to the Green Lantern Corps?
As co-director of the show, find out more about its cast and other key details in my Lanterns guide: Pierre’s Stewart will play as important a role in his story as Chandler’s Jordan.
However, while the comics contain some clues as to why they are paired in the first place, this trailer doesn’t tell us why Stewart has been chosen to apparently succeed Jordan as Earth’s top Green Lantern. We have no idea which of Stewart’s numerous backstories (his origins have been retconned several times) Lanterns It will not benefit either.
Like Jordan, I hope HBO’s Green Lantern TV series provides answers in the present or through flashbacks when it premieres on some of the world’s best streaming services.
7. Will other Green Lanterns appear?
Yes, at least one will, anyway. Fillion has already confirmed (according to Entertainment Weekly) that Gardner will appear at some point.
However, there are many, many Green Lanterns who could also appear, will any of them make it? Jordan mentions that there’s a Green Lantern squirrel (his name is Ch’p, FYI), but that doesn’t *ahem* shed any light on a possible cameo by said alien rodent. I guess we’ll have to wait Lanterns It will be published in its entirety to discover it.
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