It Was Always Going to Be John and Hal: How HBO Found its Lanterns
Introduction
Ah, the Green Lantern Corps! An intergalactic crew of space cops that has been around since the groovy days of the 1950s. Over 7,200 folks have proudly donned that snazzy green Power Ring to keep the galaxy safe from the bad guys. But here’s the million-dollar question any Green Lantern story must tackle: which Lanterns are we spotlighting?
Setting the Stage for John and Hal
Well, for Chris Mundy, the guy behind HBO’s upcoming series Lanterns, there was never any confusion. “It was always going to be John and Hal,” he confidently declares. And let’s be honest, when we think iconic Green Lanterns, it’s hard to picture anyone else but Hal Jordan and John Stewart.
The Dynamic Duo
Hal Jordan, the suave pilot with a knack for pissing people off, made his debut in 1959, thanks to the creative minds of John Broome and Gil Kane. John Stewart followed suit in 1971, crafted by Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams. These two guys aren’t just comic book characters; they’re legendary!
First Time in Live Action
Now, here’s the fun part: Lanterns marks the first time Hal and John will strut their stuff together in live action! Remember the last time we saw Hal? Yep, that was Ryan Reynolds back in the train-wreck of a movie called Green Lantern from 2011. As for John Stewart, he still hasn’t made it to the big screen—just ask Wayne T. Carr, who was sadly cut from Zack Snyder’s Justice League.
The Brains Behind the Show
So who’s making this whole Green Lantern magic happen? We’ve got Chris Mundy, a seasoned writer from True Detective, Tom King, a comic book wizard, and Damon Lindelof, the mastermind of Watchmen. They didn’t just pick Hal and John to please the comic aficionados; they’re out to spin a tale rich with a bickering, buddy cop vibe. Think of it like an intergalactic Midnight Run!
Story Arc and Characters
This series is set in two modern timelines and will feature eight episodes. We’ll watch Hal, played by the rugged Kyle Chandler, mentor John, portrayed by Aaron Pierre, as they unravel a potentially extraterrestrial murder mystery in Rushville, Nebraska. Talk about dramatic!
Chandler, a TV superstar best remembered as Coach Taylor in Friday Night Lights, brings a certain gravitas to Hal. Mundy describes Hal as a real Chuck Yeager type—an ace pilot who loves to haze his greenhorn partner (pun intended). “Once Kyle bubbled up, he seemed obvious,” Mundy says. And honestly, we couldn’t agree more!
The Search for John Stewart
Finding the perfect John Stewart wasn’t a walk in the park. With John’s ever-evolving comic book history, nailing down his character wasn’t straightforward. He started as a politically driven figure during the Black Power movement, evolved into an architect, and then became a U.S. Marine. Chaos, right?
But the creators of Lanterns are piecing together a rich backstory that gives John much more depth—plus, newcomer Aaron Pierre brings an exciting, quiet intensity to the role. It’s like the casting gods smiled upon them!
Enter Sheriff Kerry Kane
Now, let’s add some spice to the mix with Sheriff Kerry Kane, played by the fabulous Kelly Macdonald. She’s a Gotham ex-pat trying to enjoy a peaceful life in Nebraska with her husband, until our two Lanterns decide to crash her party. “Kerry can clearly see how irritating Hal is, so she sympathizes with John,” Macdonald teases, clearly enjoying her role.
A Shared Universe
Lanterns is keenly aware that it’s part of a larger DC universe, which means fans should expect some Easter eggs and references to other projects. And yes, Nathan Fillion’s ridiculously bowl-cut Guy Gardner has a cameo, just to add to the chaos.
Final Thoughts
With Hal, John, and Guy, we’ve got three Lanterns down and approximately 7,200 left to discover. Buckle up, folks, Lanterns hits HBO on August 16th, and it promises to be a wild ride!