HBO’s new series“Lanterns”hit the airwaves Sunday night, and it didn’t take long for the show to make headlines. The premiere ended with a major twist: Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan, one of the two lead Green Lanterns, is found dead in present-day 2026. Most of the episode takes place in 2016, showing Hal and his trainee John Stewart working a case in Nebraska, which makes the ending hit even harder. It’s a gritty, grounded take on the superhero genre, more“True Detective”than“Avengers.”
The big question on everyone’s mind is whether this is a permanent exit or a classic comic-book fake-out. In the comics, Hal Jordan actually died in 1996 and was resurrected in 2004, so there’s plenty of precedent for a comeback. Plus, casting someone like Kyle Chandler, a beloved actor with serious range, just to kill him off in the pilot seems like a waste. The show seems set up to pass the torch to Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart, which could be the whole point of this shocking start.
“Lanterns”airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and streams on HBO Max. Whether you’re a longtime DC Comics fan or just curious about the hype, this premiere is worth a watch. Do you think Hal Jordan is really gone, or will he be back? Let us know in the comments.
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Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
