Lanterns will premiere on 16 August 2026, streaming exclusively on HBO Max for viewers in the US and other supported regions. The first season consists of eight episodes, with weekly drops expected rather than a full-season binge, in line with HBO's usual release pattern for prestige dramas.

The series follows veteran space cop Hal Jordan, played by Kyle Chandler, and new recruit John Stewart, played by Aaron Pierre, as they investigate a grisly murder in America's heartland. Positioned as a noir-tinged, True Detective-style thriller, Lanterns keeps much of the action grounded on Earth while still drawing on the cosmic reach of the Green Lantern Corps in James Gunn and Peter Safran's emerging DC Universe slate.

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Alongside Chandler and Pierre, the ensemble includes Nathan Fillion appearing as Guy Gardner, with Kelly Macdonald, Jason Ritter and others in key supporting roles. The show is run by Ozark's Chris Mundy, with Damon Lindelof among the executive producers and Tom King credited as creator of this iteration, aiming to blend character-driven drama with large-scale comic-book mythology.

For DC, the confirmed Lanterns OTT release date signals a renewed push to give Green Lantern a serious, prestige treatment after years of false starts. For viewers, August 16 on HBO Max now stands out as the moment a long-promised, darker take on the Corps finally steps into the spotlight.

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