Top Predictions That Could Shape HBO’s Upcoming Green Lantern Series

Live-action adaptations of Green Lantern have been few and far between. Despite various Earthly individuals assuming the Green Lantern mantle in the comics, their presence in live-action formats prior to 2025 was limited mainly to a select number of television shows and the notorious 2011 film starring Ryan Reynolds. However, the DC Universe helmed by James Gunn and Peter Safran is on a mission to elevate the Green Lanterns’ prominence. Nathan Fillion’s portrayal of Guy Gardner has already appeared in “Superman,” and the upcoming HBO DC Universe series, “Lanterns,” is set to introduce this saga’s take on John Stewart (played by Aaron Pierre) and Hal Jordan (portrayed by Kyle Chandler).

The series “Lanterns” aims to place these iconic Green Lantern characters into a rural murder mystery setting, drawing inspiration from the likes of “True Detective” and “Yellowstone.” While many details of “Lanterns” remain under wraps, enough has been disclosed to fuel informed speculation about the show’s direction. When it comes to the first season of “Lanterns,” there are five predictions that hold strong potential for unfolding, shaped by the creative patterns of previous DC Universe narratives.

The likelihood of these predictions arises from the characters and settings confirmed to make appearances in “Lanterns.” Regardless of what hints at their feasibility, there should be no surprise if these predictions for HBO’s “Lanterns” become a reality. Let’s delve into these forecasts with the boldness characteristic of the most valiant Green Lantern heroes.

In keeping with the “grounded” concept of “Lanterns,” the show’s creators have clarified that no Green Lantern Corps members, aside from the two leads and Guy Gardner, will feature prominently. This means fictional characters like Tomar-Re and Kilowog from the DC Universe won’t appear anytime soon. With the series concentrating on Earth-bound narratives and facing budgetary constraints, extensive scenes set on the Green Lantern planet Oa are also unlikely, though it would be quite surprising if this locale never appears in the series’ debut season.

It is more plausible that audiences will get at least a brief glimpse of Oa in “Lanterns,” possibly in a climactic moment during the season finale. This strategy resonates with how “Creature Commandos” integrated new characters like King Shark, Nosferata, and Khalis, and how “Peacemaker” introduced Checkmate and Salvation. Additionally, a wide shot of Oa would allow the series to suggest the presence of other Green Lantern warriors without necessitating costly on-screen appearances, keeping them as mere figures in the background amidst Oa’s distinctive scenery.

Offering a brief look at this core Green Lantern location would offer teases for where future “Lanterns” seasons and John Stewart-led DC entries could venture to. That brevity, meanwhile, would ensure Oa doesn’t disrupt the intended “True Detective-“style aesthetic. It just doesn’t make any sense to imagine a live-action Green Lantern show, even one evoking a gritty Western, wouldn’t make room for any glimpse of Oa.

At the end of the second “Lanterns” trailer, Laura Linney suddenly appears in a close-up shot as an unnamed character, encouraging John Stewart to get out there and reaffirming his worthiness of the Green Lantern powers. Though her role is currently shrouded in secrecy, internet speculation has run rampant that she’s playing none other than Carol Ferris. That certainly sounds like a logical role for this monumental performer on multiple levels.

For one thing, Linney and Hal Jordan performer Kyle Chandler are roughly the same age. It sure seems reasonable for Linney to play a character so closely intertwined with Jordan, especially since she and Chandler are two of the few 60+ year-old actors in the “Lanterns” cast. More importantly, though, Linney is a three-time Oscar nominee, five-time Tony nominee, and a living legend. Just look at the esteemed parts littering Laura Linney’s best movie and TV roles. It’s doubtful the “Lanterns” crew has hired her for a disposable one-off role. Hiring her to covertly portray one of the core figures in Green Lantern mythology, though, would be a tremendous part worthy of Linney’s immense chops.

It’s not inconceivable that the internet’s speculation here is off base and Linney is indeed playing a new character in “Lanterns.” Several signs, though, suggest Carol Ferris could become the first character to be portrayed by both Laura Linney and Blake Lively in live action (at least until that “Age of Adaline” reboot comes around).

So far, the DC Universe has delved into some weirder and obscure corners of its source material. Metamorpho showed up in “Superman,” for instance, while the Captain Triumph superhero identity materialized in the second “Peacemaker” season. Given this proclivity, it would be shocking if “Lanterns” didn’t explore or at least reference a kookier nook of the Green Lantern lore. In the late 2000s, writer Geoff Johns and artist Ethan Van Sciver opened up a whole new can of worms by introducing additional Lantern factions differentiated by color into the history of the Green Lantern Corps.

These include the Blue, Yellow, Indigo, Black, and Orange (among other hues) Lanterns, each with their own emotions fueling their powers (just as willpower propels Green Lanterns). As the greater Western conspiracy fueling “Lanterns” unravels and Jordan shows Stewart the Green Lantern ropes, it’d be unsurprising if those additional Lantern groups came up. Delving into their specifics (let alone actually seeing these characters) will undoubtedly wait for another day. Still, if Jordan’s teaching Stewart about Green Lantern material, it’d be wise to inform him that groups like the Red Lanterns exist out there.

Plus, DC Universe projects like “Supergirl” are taking cues from very modern DC Comics productions, showing that these assorted movies and shows aren’t afraid of superhero elements established in the 21st century. Expect to see that trend continue with an acknowledgment that Green Lanterns aren’t the only ones out there in the cosmos with vibrant rings.

Though not prominently featured in many of its current trailers and TV spots, one of the primary adversaries of “Lanterns” is cowboy William Macon (Garret Dillahunt), who holds an immense amount of power over Rushville, Nebraska (he’s also the father-in-law of the program’s leading lady, Kelly Macdonald’s Kerry). Given that the name William Macon sounds a bit vague and the character’s purported importance to “Lanterns,” fan speculation has run rampant online that Dillahunt will actually be playing a famous Green Lantern baddie from the comics. Right now, it certainly looks plausible that Dillahunt’s William Macon will eventually be revealed in “Lanterns” to be an antagonist ripped from DC Comics lore.

But which of the most powerful DC villains could Dillahunt portray? Much of the current speculation has suggested Macon will actually be Black Hand. However, there are various other baddies William Macon could be an alias for, including Doctor Polaris or Major Disaster. Heck, he could even be a cosmic alien posing as a Nebraskan human. Perhaps Larfleeze took on this alias for his own wicked machinations. With decades of Green Lantern comics to reference, there’s a plethora of options for who William Macon could actually be.

Of course, there’s a chance Garret Dillahunt really is playing a new character. However, with “Lanterns” confirmed to feature Green Lantern supporting players Guy Gardner and Sinestro, it’d only make sense to utilize yet another prominent figure from this superhero’s past for this character.

The dark history of Green Lantern includes the storylines where Hal Jordan, infected by Parallax, became a vicious villain. That incarnation of the character has loomed large over all subsequent iterations of and storylines involving Jordan’s Green Lantern. The trailers for “Lanterns” have shown Jordan and Stewart working (albeit reluctantly) side by side to solve a Nebraskan murder, but they’ve also depicted Jordan as extremely hostile toward his younger cohort. Between this and speculation that the “Lanterns” may be hiding a major DC universe villain in plain sight, rooted in Jordan’s potential inability to previously save the day, “Lanterns” is likely carving out a morally complicated version of this DC Comics mainstay.

Given this reality, it would be surprising if the first “Lanterns” season didn’t start doling out teases regarding Jordan’s eventual descent into villainy. For one thing, Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart is set to join David Corenswet’s Superman as a do-gooder hero in “Man of Tomorrow,” but not Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan. That detail could suggest the initial “Lanterns” season ends with Stewart ascending to superhero status while Jordan begins succumbing to Parallax. More broadly, giving Hal Jordan a concrete long-term moral trajectory towards wickedness could give both the DC Universe and Kyle Chandler plenty to work with.

After all, Hal Jordan’s turn to the dark side is one of his most famous comic book storylines. It’s inevitable that “Lanterns” would suggest such a seminal character turn in the DC Universe’s future.