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Oct 30 - Nov 1, 2026
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Spoiler warning for the season finale of ‘Lanterns’
DC Studios’ Lanterns follows veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) on a clandestine mission with his trainee, John Stewart (Aaron Pierre), in Rushville, Nebraska. Though the premise sounds simple, this gritty superhero crime drama delivers plenty of shocking twists and turns as the story unravels and connects events occurring in 2016 and 2026.
The series has become a huge hit on HBO Max, with fans petitioning for a second season already. To celebrate the season finale milestone, Supanova was invited by HBO Max to an exclusive press conference featuring the superstar lanterns themselves.
The series explores the relationship between Hal and John and examines the complexity of a lantern’s duty. Pierre and Chandler reflect on this.
“I think what this show does, in my opinion, is highlight us as a global community,” says Pierre. “I think it highlights that our differences and our nuances need not be a point of contention. They can be a point of education, insight and connectivity.
“Kyle and I couldn’t be any more different. But what Kyle and I discovered instantly and on a deeper level throughout the six months we were filming was that we have far more in common than everything else. And everything else was a point of excitement.”
He elaborates, “It was a joyous experience, but it required a lot of focus. We needed to be vulnerable with each other… to be completely open and honest, because one of the pillars of the show is our dynamic and our connection as characters and actors.
“The icing on the cake was that we genuinely, sincerely developed a friendship, a closeness. It is not a given in these situations; there are times when that doesn’t happen, and you still must get the work done.”
Chandler adds, “We were fortunate as two actors to come upon very well-crafted material. It was a joy to do, literally. Something that really struck me was the last scene between Aaron and me in the show.
“It is like when we win the state championship, tears come to your eyes because all the work you put in slams into you at one moment on the field. It happened to me this morning watching [the finale].
“I had to gently wipe away tears, so my wife wouldn’t make fun of me. It was like saying goodbye to a lot of old friends, a lot of great memories, and a lot of experiences.”
Chandler explains that he lost his father when he was 14 years old. “The father-son aspect of the show is just incredible. Hal had this father-son relationship with John; it became apparent while we were shooting it. That wisdom and being able to give back, that love story won over me. I was able to do what my father would have done for me.”
This dynamic between John and Hal is further cultivated through Stewart’s interactions with ‘Halogram’, Jordan’s backup of his conscience that is stored in his lantern ring. How did Chandler approach playing this version of Hal?
“It’s Hal as a young man going through all those experiences, and then finally learning in the end what it is all about. He could never pluck that string as Hal, but as Halogram, he learned with Hal, and he could pluck the string. That’s how I look at it, like the two of them were never fully separated.”
What do they think of the fan reaction and the show’s popularity? “That’s something new for me, to see how the public takes these characters and appreciates them in different ways on social media. It’s been joyous, and everything I have heard has been positive. I’m grateful to be a part of it,” Chandler smiles.
“The only social media I have is Instagram,” clarifies Pierre. “I rarely check in on it unless I need to post something for the purposes of work. I have only seen what people have sent me, and all of which has been immensely heartwarming.
“What I’ve experienced most during these eight weeks are people approaching me in public and sharing how [the show] has moved them. I am talking about people from every walk in life. Those moments are precious to me; if I could put those moments in a bottle, I would. I don’t have the words to explain how precious that is to me,” he beams.
All episodes of ‘Lanterns’ are streaming exclusively on HBO Max.
