The wait is officially over! DC Studios just dropped the first full trailer for Lanterns, and honestly, the internet is having a meltdown. Forget the bright, CGI-heavy space battles of the past. James Gunn is taking us in a completely different direction.
We’re not getting another “save the world” story. Instead, it looks like a gritty, hard-boiled mystery that feels more like True Detective than a traditional Marvel movie. If you were worried about a repeat of the 2011 movie, you can breathe a sigh of relief. This is something entirely new.
The trailer gives us our first real look at the dynamic between Hal Jordan (played by Kyle Chandler) and John Stewart (played by Aaron Pierre). Hal is a grizzled veteran who has seen it all and seems totally over the “hero” life, while John is the new recruit who hasn’t even been allowed to wear his ring yet.
Their chemistry is pure “old cop vs. new cop,” and it’s already generating tons of hype. At one point, Hal literally jumps out of a moving car and leaves the ring on the dashboard, basically telling John to “sink or swim.” It’s a bold way to start a partnership.
One of the biggest talking points is the grounded tone. We barely see any “green” in this trailer at all. The suits aren’t glowing neon. They look like practical, worn-down flight gear. We see Hal flying, but there’s no massive green energy blast behind him.
It seems the show is leaning into the mystery of a dark murder in the American heartland rather than flying off to other planets right away. Fans are already spotting clues that this small-town investigation will lead to massive DC villains like Sinestro and maybe even the terrifying “Blackest Night” storyline.
There’s also a major mystery surrounding the rest of the Green Lantern Corps. Hal mentions that he’s the “only human” Lantern he knows, which has everyone asking: what happened to Guy Gardner? Since Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner is already established in this universe, Hal’s comment is sparking theories that Guy might be missing, or maybe Hal just hates him so much he doesn’t consider him a person. Either way, the trailer confirms we’ll see more of the weird side of DC, with a hilarious nod to the fan-favourite squirrel Lantern, Ch’p.
Lanterns is set to hit HBO in August, and it’s clear this is going to be the “prestige” corner of the new DCU. It’s dark, it’s intense, and it’s clearly not afraid to get its hands dirty. Whether you’re a die-hard comic fan or just love a good crime thriller, this is definitely one to keep on your radar.
Here’s the trailer!