2026’s Green Lantern TV Show Makes DC History With First Footage

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The initial preview of DC’s Lanterns series stands out because it officially introduces several major Green Lantern characters to the DC Universe. We’ll see Hal Jordan (played by Kyle Chandler) and John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) join the team, following a glimpse of Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) and the power of the Green Lantern ring in Superman (2025). Fans are excited to see these iconic heroes take center stage when Lanterns arrives on HBO Max in 2026.

HBO hasn’t released a full trailer for Lanterns yet, but a short clip was shown in their preview of upcoming 2026 shows. Even though the footage was brief, Lanterns is already making history as a DC television series – and it hasn’t even premiered!

Interestingly, the first look at the Lanterns show didn’t include any of its heroes in costume – a first for live-action DC superhero teasers. While we see brief action scenes with John Stewart and Hal Jordan, they’re both wearing everyday clothes. Lanterns is aiming for a more serious and gritty tone, similar to True Detective, and is different from the typical lightheartedness of many superhero TV shows. This likely explains why they chose not to showcase the iconic costumes in the teaser.

Traditionally, when DC Comics characters get their own live-action TV shows, the first trailers immediately show the hero wearing their costume. This has been a consistent approach for decades, from the original Batman series in the 1960s to recent shows like The Flash, Supergirl, Arrow and the upcoming second season of Peacemaker. It’s a long-standing practice to showcase the hero in full costume right from the start.

Shows like Smallville and Gotham started without immediately showing their main heroes in costume, and unlike shows named after DC heroes, they didn’t have a DC hero’s name in the title. Other series, such as Gotham Knights and Naomi, also introduce heroes before they wear traditional superhero costumes, so it’s not surprising the trailer doesn’t feature any suits.

It’s still unclear how the show Lanterns will deal with the more outlandish aspects of Green Lantern’s comic book history, like the brightly colored costumes, while still keeping a serious feel. However, the initial preview footage suggests a more realistic approach, as the costumes aren’t included.

Created by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King for HBO Max, the series Lanterns will feature actors Chandler, Pierre, Nathan Fillion (returning to the DC Universe), and newcomers Kelly Macdonald, Ulrich Thomsen, and Jason Ritter. It’s currently scheduled to debut around the middle of 2026.

When Will Lanterns Reveal the Green Lantern Suit?

The first look at the Lanterns series doesn’t show the Green Lantern costumes, which makes fans wonder how the show will handle the hero’s suits. The series appears to be a more realistic and serious crime drama, suggesting it might not focus as much on traditional superhero elements from the comics. However, it would be surprising if Hal Jordan and John Stewart never wore superhero suits during the show.

Okay, so here’s what I’m hearing about the new Green Lantern series: they’re thinking of ditching the super flashy, comic-book look for something a lot more realistic. Think Christopher Nolan’s Batman – practical, believable, and built for actual use. That likely means a complete overhaul of the suit design, and toning down all the ‘space cop’ elements to fit the show’s darker, grittier vibe. It’s a smart move, honestly – less ‘power ring spectacle’ and more ‘what would a real interstellar law enforcer wear?’

Fans briefly saw Guy Gardner in a superhero outfit in the movie Superman. He wore a suit designed by LordTech as part of a team called the Justice Gang. It wasn’t the usual black and green Green Lantern uniform; instead, it was a toned-down look featuring a jacket with the Green Lantern symbol. The creators of the Lanterns series might want to explore a similar style to match the feel of the HBO show.

There’s a good reason why Jordan and Stewart aren’t wearing their usual superhero costumes in Lanterns. They’re investigating a murder in Nebraska and need to blend in, so they’ve traded their intergalactic outfits for everyday clothes to go undercover.

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2026-01-13 09:05