Awesome LANTERNS Trailer Reveals Sinestro, the Manhunters, and DC’s Darkest Mystery Yet
DC Studios may not have made a huge splash at San Diego Comic-Con this year, but it didn’t need to. One of the biggest highlights of the convention came from Lanterns, which debuted an incredible new trailer that finally gives fans a real look at what this series is bringing to the DC Universe.
One of DC’s greatest franchises has spent far too long sitting on the sidelines. After the disastrous 2011 Green Lantern movie starring Ryan Reynolds, the franchise essentially disappeared from live-action.
While Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and countless other heroes continued getting new stories on screen, characters like Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Sinestro, and the rest of the Green Lantern mythology were left waiting for another chance. Now they’re finally getting it.
James Gunn’s new DC Universe introduced audiences to one Green Lantern almost immediately, but Lanterns is where the mythology really starts to expand. The series premieres on HBO Max on August 16, and after watching this latest trailer, it’s hard not to get excited.
The footage leans even further into the crime mystery at the center of the story, and that’s exactly what has me hooked. I absolutely love the noir atmosphere the series is embracing.
It feels like someone blended the investigative tension of True Detective with the grounded character drama of Yellowstone, then dropped Green Lantern mythology right into the middle of it. It’s such an unexpected combination, but it works incredibly well.
While fans finally get their first official look at Sinestro, played by Ulrich Thomsen, the real threat appears to be the Manhunters. That reveal immediately raises the stakes and gives the murder investigation involving Hal Jordan and John Stewart a much bigger purpose.
Instead of simply solving crimes, it looks like they’re uncovering something that reaches deep into the history of the Green Lantern Corps.
We also get a much better sense of the partnership between Hal and John. Their relationship feels layered, with Hal serving as the veteran Lantern while John is clearly stepping into a much larger role.
Sinestro even takes the opportunity to needle Hal, suggesting John is there to replace him instead of backing him up, adding another layer of tension between the characters.
And yes, there are plenty of Green Lantern constructs lighting up the screen. The trailer doesn’t shy away from showing the power rings in action, and hearing the Green Lantern oath cap things off is exactly the kind of moment longtime fans have been hoping for.
Simply put, this footage does a much better job selling the series than anything we’ve seen previously. It makes the mystery more compelling, gives us a clearer look at the villains, showcases more of the Green Lantern powers, and proves this isn’t just another superhero series. It looks like a grounded detective story that just happens to exist in one of DC’s most cosmic corners.
The Lanterns panel at San Diego Comic-Con featured Kyle Chandler, who plays Hal Jordan, Aaron Pierre as John Stewart, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, and series co-creators Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King.
Everything we’ve seen so far show that Lanterns is aiming for something very different from the typical superhero formula, and that’s exactly why it’s become one of my most anticipated DC projects.
The noir detective vibe, the grounded performances, the eerie mystery, and the larger Green Lantern mythology all seem to complement each other in a really exciting way.
Now all that’s left to do is count down the days until Lanterns premieres on HBO Max on August 16.