HBO's new drama series 'Lanterns,' an adaptation of DC's Green Lantern comics, continues its broadcast schedule with the release of its second episode on Sunday, August 23, 2026. The series, which premiered its first episode on August 16, airs new installments on Sundays at 9 PM ET on HBO and HBO Max.
'Lanterns' follows the cosmic police force known as Green Lanterns, who derive their powers from rings that can manifest anything from their imagination. The first episode introduced viewers to Hal Jordan, played by Kyle Chandler, Earth's first Green Lantern, and John Stewart, portrayed by Aaron Pierre, a former marine training to succeed Jordan. Their initial investigation in the series premiere centers on a murder mystery in Rushville, Nebraska, involving disguised aliens gunned down at a high school football game.
The season's narrative takes a significant turn at the end of the first episode with a time jump to 2026, revealing an older John Stewart returning to Rushville following the murder of Hal Jordan. The series aims to explore the circumstances and reasons behind this central crime.
The first season of 'Lanterns' comprises a total of eight episodes, with new installments scheduled to air weekly through October 4, 2026. The episode release schedule is as follows: Episode 1, "Pilot," aired August 16; Episode 2 airs August 23; Episode 3 on August 30; Episode 4 on September 6; Episode 5 on September 13; Episode 6 on September 20; Episode 7 on September 27; and the season finale, Episode 8, on October 4.
To watch 'Lanterns,' a subscription to HBO or HBO Max is required, as it is an HBO original series. HBO Max offers ad-supported subscriptions starting at $10.99 per month, with an ad-free version available for $18.49 per month. Bundles including Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max are also available, priced at $19.99 per month with ads and $32.99 per month without ads.
The cast of 'Lanterns' includes Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan, Aaron Pierre as John Stewart, Kelly Macdonald as Sheriff Kerry Kane, Garret Dillahunt as William Macon, Poorna Jagannathan as Zoe, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Jason Ritter as Billy Macon, and Ulrich Thomsen as Thal Sinestro. The series' future beyond the first season is yet to be determined by HBO.