How HBO’s ‘Lanterns’ Show Aims to Get John Stewart Right

As the year comes to a close, it just means less time having to wait until 2026 for DC Studios’ Lanterns show after Warner Bros.’ solid Peacemaker and Superman run.

The next phase of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s take on the DCU is the series showrun by Chris Mundy (True Detective) and starring Aaron Pierre as John Stewart.

In a new profile of the actor in Men’s Health, Mundy and Pierre spoke about the show, with Mundy explaining that their take on the Green Lantern’s heroic mantle is “as much of a buddy cop show as a superhero show.”

Centering on a seasoned Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and on-the-rise John Stewart, Lanterns will explore their dueling schools of thought when it comes to superhero legacies.

“Our show is in a lot of ways about replacement—when should someone step aside and when is it time for the next person to take the reins?” Mundy told the magazine. “That push and pull between those two characters is really important. So much of the power that John has is by not taking the bait, understanding that you lose your power if you’re yelling and screaming. That’s what we’re trying to convey: he knows he belongs, so he doesn’t have to overcompensate. There’s a real balance there that’s just innately inside of Aaron. He’s big. He’s an intimidating presence just physically. But there’s a softness to him too. There’s a thoughtfulness. You can’t teach that.”

For Pierre, “the character just radiates strength and fortitude … That hunger to be the best version of yourself, which also holds you accountable when you’re not.”

Lanterns will be the first time fans see John Stewart as a live-action character, and the duo understands the importance of that.

“Aaron felt a responsibility, especially as a Black man playing this particular role, to make sure he really understood him and brought him to life,” the showrunner said. “I think fans will see the reverence he has for it, and that goes a long way.”

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