Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler are our hard-travelling heroes in Lanterns, the latest addition to James Gunn’s DC Universe.
Square-jawed, fearless Hal Jordan, AKA Green Lantern, is one of the DC Universe‘s most strait-laced heroes, so it’s a bit weird hearing him cursing up a storm, but this is James Gunn‘s world, folks, and he likes a bit of potty-mouth from his protagonists.
That aside, Kyle Chandler is a pretty killer pick for the character, and Aaron Pierre as fellow Green Lantern Corps member John Stewart, who seems to still have the training wheels on in this first look at Lanterns? Well, that’s just perfect.
As for the rest? Well, as much as I love the Green Lantern/Green Arrow run where grumpy ‘ol lefty GA drags Hal around the US showing him that there are plenty of problems here on Earth that could use a hero’s attention, for me a big part of the appeal of the whole Green Lantern dealio is the big, goofy, cosmic nonsense. So, points against, I guess, but I’m definitely on board for this.
Lanterns Teaser
What’s the plot?
In the DC Universe, the Green Lanterns are basically space cops, haring around the universe with their super-powerful high tech rings and battling intergalactic menaces, as you do. The whole conceit is, to me at least, obviously a riff on E.E. “Doc” Smith’s Lensman stories, but we’ve come a long way from that over the decades-long history of the comics.
But, of course, we seem to be getting an earthbound story in Lanterns, for as the official synopsis tells us:
Two intergalactic cops, new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, are drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.
Who’s in it?
- Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan, former test pilot and legendary member of the Green Lantern Corps.
- Aaron Pierre as John Stewart, new Green Lantern recruit that Jordan is training to replace himself.
- Kelly Macdonald as Kerry, a sheriff devoted to her family and close-knit town.
- Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, loveable asshole Green Lantern, reprising his role from Superman.
- Garret Dillahunt as William Macon, a modern cowboy and, let’s face it, probably villain.
- Poorna Jagannathan as Zoe.
- Ulrich Thomsen as Sinestro, a rogue former Green Lantern and Hal’s old mentor.
- Nicole Ari Parker as Bernadette Stewart, John Stewart’s mother.
- Jason Ritter as Billy Macon: Kerry’s husband and William’s son.
- Sherman Augustus as John Stewart Sr.: John Stewart’s father.
- Paul Ben-Victor as Antaan: An extraterrestrial who is “devoted to exposing the truth and exacting vengeance against those who wronged his people”.
When’s it out?
August, apparently, but no firm date as yet. We’re getting eight episodes.
What’s the vibe?
The chemistry between Chandler and Pierre is off the charts, but there’s not much more to go on as yet. I hope they nail it, so I’m optimistic. And, y’know, Sinestro’s showing up, so that points to some more galaxy-scale adventures – if not this season, then perhaps down the track. But whither G’Nort, that’s my question. Whither G’Nort?
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