Photo Credit: HBO
Lanterns, an upcoming HBO Original drama series from DC Studios, has had its release date delayed.
When is the new Lanterns release date?
During a press presentation on Thursday, Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO and HBO Max Content, revealed that Lanterns will premiere toward the end of summer 2026. Based on the Green Lantern characters from DC Comics, Lanterns was originally scheduled for an early 2026 debut on HBO and HBO Max.
Lanterns’ logline reads, “The series follows new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.”
Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler star as John Stewart and Hal Jordan, respectively. Lanterns’ ensemble includes Kelly Macdonald as Kerry, Garret Dillahunt as William Macon, Poorna Jagannathan as Zoe, Ulrich Thomsen as Sinestro, Nicole Ari Parker as Bernadette Stewart, Jasmine Cephas Jones as a young Bernadette, Jason Ritter as Billy Macon, Sherman Augustus as John Stewart Sr., J. Alphonse Nicholson as a young John Stewart Sr., Paul Ben-Victor as Antaan, and Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner.
Guest stars include Chris Coy as Waylon Sanders and Cary Christopher as Noah.
Chris Mundy is an executive producer and showrunner on Lanterns. Mundy co-wrote the pilot with fellow executive producers Damon Lindelof and Tom King. James Hawes, who helmed 2025’s The Amateur, directed the first two episodes of Lanterns. Stephen Williams, Geeta Vasant Patel, and Alik Sakharov also directed episodes.
James Gunn, Peter Safran, Hawes, and Ron Schmidt are also executive producers. Production began on the series in February 2025. Lanterns is made for HBO in association with Warner Bros. Television and DC Studios. The series will consist of eight episodes.
Lanterns will be part of the DCU’s Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. With a release window in the summer of 2026, Lanterns will likely air after Supergirl and before Clayface. Supergirl flies into theaters on June 26, and Clayface releases on September 11.
