HBO's 'Lanterns' trailer reveals Sinestro, Manhunters, and a murder mystery in Nebraska at Comic-Con
The HBO series from DC Studios, starring Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre, premieres August 16 and follows two Green Lanterns investigating a murder in Nebraska with cosmic ties.
Trailer debut at Comic-Con
DC Studios brought its upcoming HBO series 'Lanterns' to San Diego Comic-Con on July 24, 2026, debuting the most detailed trailer yet during the Hall H panel. The footage gave attendees the first clear look at the show's tone, blending a noir murder mystery with cosmic superhero elements. Co-creators Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King were on hand alongside cast members Kyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre, Garret Dillahunt, and Poorna Jagannathan. The trailer arrives as the second major DCU television project under James Gunn and Peter Safran, following 'Peacemaker' season two.
Plot and central mystery
The series follows two Green Lanterns, veteran Hal Jordan (Chandler) and recruit John Stewart (Pierre), who are drawn to a small Nebraska town to investigate a murder. The logline describes them as "two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery with cosmic ties." The trailer shows Jordan training Stewart in the use of their power rings, with visible friction between the reluctant partners. As the investigation deepens, the threat expands beyond Earth: the shape-shifting alien race known as the Manhunters is revealed as the primary antagonist, capable of impersonating anyone.
Villains and cameos
Ulrich Thomsen appears as Sinestro, the classic Green Lantern villain, shown in a prison setting. In DC lore, Sinestro was once a mentor to Jordan before becoming a Yellow Lantern who wields fear. The trailer also includes a cameo by Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, another Green Lantern who appeared in 2025's 'Superman' and will return in the sequel 'Man of Tomorrow.' The presence of both Sinestro and the Manhunters signals that the Nebraska murder is tied to a larger galactic conflict.
Cast and creative team
Beyond Chandler and Pierre, the ensemble includes Kelly Macdonald, Laura Linney, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Sherman Augustus, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Jason Ritter, Chris Coy, and Paul Ben-Victor. Variety also lists Paula Patton and Nicole Ari Parker among the cast. The series is co-created by Mundy, Lindelof, and King, with Mundy serving as showrunner. James Hawes directed the first two episodes; Stephen Williams, Geeta Vasant Patel, and Alik Sakharov also directed. Executive producers are Mundy, Lindelof, Gunn, Safran, King, Ron Schmidt, and Hawes.
DC Universe context and release
'Lanterns' is the latest entry in the rebooted DC Universe that began with 'Creature Commandos' and 'Superman' in 2025. The eight-episode season premieres on HBO and streams on HBO Max on Sunday, August 16. It was shot across California, including the Warner Bros. lot, Barstow, and the Santa Clarita area. The next DCU project after 'Lanterns' is the body-horror film 'Clayface,' starring Tom Rhys Harries, due in fall 2026.
