HBO’s upcoming DC series “Lanterns” has cast Emmy winner Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan, a prominent member of the Green Lantern Corps. This role marks Chandler’s return to series television since his performance in Showtime’s 2022 drama “Super Pumped.”
“Lanterns” received a straight-to-series order in June after several years of development and is produced by Chris Mundy (known for “Ozark”), Damon Lindelof (from “Watchmen” and “Lost”), and Eisner Award-winning comic writer Tom King. The trio is engaged in co-writing and executive producing the series, with Mundy taking on the role of showrunner.
Under the HBO banner, the series is currently in the casting phase and is searching for directors. Filming is expected to take place in Atlanta between January and June.
The show is characterized by a gritty, “True Detective”-style narrative, focusing on Jordan as he reluctantly mentors a younger Lantern named John Stewart, who is recognized as one of DC’s first Black superheroes. Together, they delve into a murder investigation on Earth that carries significant consequences. The producers are reportedly seeking a younger actor to pair with the more established Chandler.
Initially, DC aimed to cast a movie star for the role of Jordan and had discussions with Josh Brolin, who ultimately declined the offer. Speculation surrounding actors like Chris Pine and Ewan McGregor filling the role turned out to be unfounded.
Chandler gained prominence for his Emmy-winning role as Coach Eric Taylor in the highly regarded “Friday Night Lights,” which aired on NBC from 2006 to 2011. He made his return to series television with the Netflix thriller “Bloodline,” earning two Emmy nominations. His recent film credits include “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” “Godzilla vs. Kong,” and Damien Chazelle’s biopic “First Man.”
Chandler is represented by Gersh and Brillstein Entertainment Partners.