DC’s newest series has officially arrived. Lanterns launches in the UK today, Monday 17 August 2026, with Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre stepping into the DCU as Green Lanterns Hal Jordan and John Stewart. The eight-part series is available through HBO Max and NOW in the UK, with a weekly release taking viewers through to the beginning of October.
The series follows experienced Lantern Hal Jordan and new recruit John Stewart, two intergalactic cops pulled into a dark mystery after investigating a murder in the American heartland. Rather than leaning into a traditional cosmic superhero adventure, Lanterns takes a darker detective-noir approach as the pair attempt to uncover what happened.
How Many Episodes Are in Lanterns?
Lanterns Season 1 has eight episodes. The first episode arrived in the UK today, and new episodes will be released every Monday rather than dropping all at once. The series airs on Sunday nights in the US, meaning UK viewers receive each instalment the following Monday.
The complete UK release schedule is:
Monday, 17 August – Episode 1
Monday, 24 August – Episode 2
Monday, 31 August – Episode 3
Monday, 7 September – Episode 4
Monday, 14 September – Episode 5
Monday, 21 September – Episode 6
Monday, 28 September – Episode 7
Monday, 5 October – Episode 8, Finale
Where Can You Watch Lanterns in the UK?
Lanterns is available in the UK through HBO Max and NOW from 17 August, with Sky Atlantic also airing the series. The premiere became available from 2am BST, in line with its 9pm ET HBO broadcast in the US.
Who Is in the Lanterns Cast?
Kyle Chandler stars as veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan, with Aaron Pierre playing John Stewart. Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Laura Linney, Poorna Jagannathan and Ulrich Thomsen also appear, with Nathan Fillion returning as Guy Gardner following his appearances elsewhere in the new DCU.
For CultureCues, we have been waiting to see Aaron Pierre properly step into the DCU as John Stewart, and pairing him with Kyle Chandler already makes Lanterns one of the most interesting additions to this new era of DC. We love that it is taking a detective-mystery approach rather than giving us another straightforward superhero story, and the early glimpses of Pierre and Chandler together have us ready to see where the investigation leads. The weekly wait may test our patience, though… In brightest day, in blackest night, Mondays are officially booked.
Lanterns is streaming in the UK now, with new episodes arriving every Monday.
Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.