The wait for Lanterns is almost over. Ahead of the series premiere, HBO has released the first five minutes of the highly anticipated DCU series.
The opening footage offers an early look at Hal Jordan and John Stewart. More importantly, it begins to reveal how the two Green Lanterns became connected.
The sequence moves across different points in time and establishes important details about Hal’s history. It also introduces a young John, who already sees Hal as a legendary hero. However, the footage raises several questions about Hal’s past, John’s training, and their place in the wider DC Universe.
HBO Reveals Hal Jordan in Lanterns’ First Five Minutes
The Lanterns first five minutes begin in 1996.
The opening reveals that Hal Jordan has already been serving as a Green Lantern since 1986. Therefore, he has spent around a decade protecting Earth before the events shown in the scene.
Interestingly, Hal appears during a televised interview without his iconic Green Lantern domino mask.
That detail could be important. It potentially suggests that Hal’s secret identity is already publicly known in this version of the DC Universe.
If so, Lanterns could present a very different take on Hal Jordan. The series may also eventually explain why he no longer needs to hide his identity from the public.
Watch the First 5 Minutes of Lanterns:
A Young John Stewart Watches Hal Jordan
The opening then introduces a young John Stewart.
John watches Hal Jordan on television and appears impressed by the legendary Green Lantern. At such a young age, Hal already seems to represent the kind of fearless hero John could one day become.
This moment could be important to John’s development. It establishes a connection to Hal before John eventually becomes a Green Lantern himself.
However, John gets into trouble for staying up late to watch television.
His father responds with a dangerous lesson about fear. In the scene, an apple is placed above John’s head before his father shoots it.
The experience appears designed to teach John how to remain fearless in dangerous situations.
As a result, this sequence could provide an early look at the experiences that shape John’s personality and determination.
Lanterns Jumps Forward to 2016
The story then jumps forward to 2016.
John is now older when Hal Jordan picks him up. However, Hal’s attitude toward John appears antagonistic.
Their interaction immediately raises questions about their history.
More importantly, the scene seemingly establishes the beginning or continuation of Hal’s training of John as the next Green Lantern.
This could become one of the central relationships in Lanterns. Rather than simply introducing John as another Green Lantern, the series appears ready to explore how Hal influences him and how their partnership develops.
Why Were Hal Jordan and John Stewart Missing From Superman?
The new footage also raises a major question about the wider DCU.
Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner was already serving as a Green Lantern in Superman. However, DC Studios has not yet explained why Guy was active as a Green Lantern during the events of that film while Hal Jordan and John Stewart were absent.
Now that Lanterns is establishing a detailed history for Hal and John, their absence becomes even more interesting.
The series could eventually explain where Hal and John were during the events of Superman. It could also reveal more about the Green Lantern Corps and its activities on Earth.
For now, however, DC Studios is keeping those connections under wraps.
HBO Plans Lanterns as a Multi-Season Series
The story may extend much further than the first season.
Showrunner Chris Mundy has confirmed that Lanterns was conceived as a multi-season series. However, he also explained that the first batch of episodes largely functions as a standalone story.
Mundy explained:
“We’re trying to really put John Stewart on his feet inside our own show, but then, once he’s on his feet, he can walk around in the rest of the DC-verse,”
This approach could give John a strong foundation before he moves into the wider DC Universe.
Therefore, the series can focus on John’s development first instead of immediately pushing him into every corner of the new DCU.
DC Studios Gave Lanterns “No Directives” About Guy Gardner
Mundy also revealed that DC Studios gave the Lanterns creative team “no directives” to use Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner as connective tissue to Superman.
This suggests that the series has considerable freedom to establish its own storyline.
At the same time, the presence of multiple Green Lanterns in the DCU naturally creates opportunities for future connections.
Still, Lanterns does not appear to have been forced into becoming a direct continuation of Guy Gardner’s story from Superman.
HBO Lanterns May Feature a Major Plot Twist
There may also be major surprises waiting for viewers.
Tom King has reportedly hinted at a major plot twist in Lanterns, along with a departure from established canon.
If true, this could make the series even more unpredictable for longtime Green Lantern fans.
The first five minutes already suggest that the series is willing to take familiar characters and mythology in new directions. Therefore, viewers may want to expect some unexpected changes when the full story unfolds.
Damon Lindelof Admits There Is Pressure to Get Lanterns Right
The creative team behind Lanterns is also aware of the pressure surrounding the series.
Damon Lindelof acknowledged the expectations surrounding the project, saying they had:
“A real fear of screwing it up.”
Lindelof also explained that he wants audiences to:
“Feel how much we cared about Hal and John,”
However, he also admitted:
“If it doesn’t, it’s going to fall on its face.”
These comments show how seriously the creative team is approaching the project.
That pressure is understandable. Green Lantern has a long history in DC Comics, and fans have been waiting for a major live-action adaptation centered on the characters.
As a result, Lanterns has an important challenge. It needs to respect the established mythology while also giving the new DCU its own interpretation.
What Is HBO’s Lanterns About?
Lanterns follows John Stewart and legendary Green Lantern Hal Jordan as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.
The murder investigation gives the series a grounded mystery while introducing two major cosmic heroes to the new DC Universe.
This approach could help Lanterns stand apart from other DC projects. Instead of immediately focusing on massive superhero battles, the series appears to emphasize mystery, character development, and the relationship between its two leads.
Kyle Chandler plays Hal Jordan, while Aaron Pierre portrays John Stewart.
The cast also includes Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Nicole Ari Parker, Jason Ritter, J. Alphonse Nicholson, and Jasmine Cephas Jones.
The first two episodes of Lanterns are directed by James Hawes.
Meanwhile, Stephen Williams, Geeta Vasant Patel, and Alik Sakharov also direct episodes of the series.
With several directors involved, Lanterns has assembled a strong creative team to bring the grounded Green Lantern story to life.
Lanterns premieres on HBO on August 16, 2026.
The release of the first five minutes gives DC fans their first substantial look at the series and its approach to Hal Jordan and John Stewart.
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