It’s Friday afternoon in the forever-packed Hall H, and Jared Hall has taken the stage to host the “Lanterns” panel. Welcoming the two main stars of the show to the stage, Kyle Chandler who plays the legendary Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre who plays his trainee John Stewart, plus creators Damon Lindelof and Tom King, the panel of course began with a trailer for the show.
For those of you who might need a refresher, “Lanterns” is a TV show about the Green Lanterns of the DC Universe, where two intergalactic cops are drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder on our planet.
Before anything else, the now well-known Lindleof and King had to wax poetic about being up on a stage at Comic-con, rather than being in the audience. Lindleof declared himself a huge DC fan before anything else, and King gave a relatable story about being a poor So-Cal kid standing in long lines for Hall H, and desperately selling his mini-comics here at Comic-con (“Please, buy 2!”), anything and everything to get his start in his beloved comics. It was because of us, the audience, they both said, that they both got to be here up on this stage as part of this amazing show, so thank you from them to all of us!
Then we were treated to a sneak peek scene of the show, in which Hal tosses John the ring for the first time as a literal “fly or die” test. And when Stewart shows back up to confront Jordan, who’s in the midst of being hero-worshipped by fans even here out in the middle of nowhere, the all-important question gets asked, “What did you make with the ring?” To which Stewart deadpans, “Bubble wrap.”
Pierre, who plays the iconic John Stewart, poster child for a great many heavy subjects that comics have a tendency to tackle before others have the nerve to – Black military servicemen treatment, PTSD and the accompanying stigma attached, personal vs. professional responsibility – talked about the tangible relatability of the show, and how challenging it was to portray Stewarts own ego trip at being chosen as a Lantern. And if normal people in real life could just find out where to sign up for being part of the Green Lantern Corps, they’d definitely sign up in droves. Stewart is a well-known and inspirational character, and Pierre is honored to be playing him.
Chandler laughingly talked about how he and Pierre would play off each-other in preparation for playing their characters, for the gruff and reckless mentor and the grudging but talented trainee, and how they would attempt to escalate and out-do each-other. Even one time, when Pierre pulled out the, “Yeah, but you’re old,” card, and that caused both actors to just bond and the whole cop duo feeling to take off.
Chandler continued, the writing for the show gave the actors the opportunity to really chew the scenery and still be respectful to the script and the whole DC Green Lantern world.
Pierre talked about his harrowing audition process for “Lanterns”, how before filming began his tendon had separated from the bone in his bicep and gone all the way up into his shoulder, and getting the call to ask if he wants to audition for “Lanterns” even in that condition. Pierre did his final callback for the show with his arm in a brace, and his determination to go ahead come what may won him the part of John Stewart. Pierre even said, “In that moment I was like, what would John Stewart do?”
Suddenly a ruckus comes from behind the curtain backstage, and next thing we know, a well-known and beloved figure bounces onto the stage of the “Lanterns” panel – Nathan Fillion!
Yes, as Fillion himself stated, he’s kind of a big deal here at Comic-Con, there’s a building outside with his face on it, he was already absolutely beloved before playing Green Lantern Guy Gardner in the latest Superman jaunt. But now that he has taken on that role too, like everything else he does, Fillion leaned into the role with the kind of charming snark only he possesses, clearly evident when he displayed his BEST GARDNER EVER t-shirt under his overshirt and simply smirked, “It’s hot.”
And finally, the three Green Lanterns onstage did a heartfelt reading of the Oath together with the whole audience, and the panel was done.
“In brightest day, in blackest night
No evil shall escape my sight.
Let those who worship evil’s might
Beware my power – Green Lanterns light!”
“Lanterns” premieres August 16th, 2026, on HBO and HBO MAX!
Written by Alicia Glass